Laserfiche WebLink
CITY COUNCIL <br />AGENDA ITEM 4C <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: John Swenson, Public Safety Director <br />MEETING DATE: August 28, 2023 <br />TOPIC: School Resource Officer (SRO) Contract with the Centennial <br />School District <br />VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 <br />INTRODUCTION <br />The Lino Lakes Public Safety Department has provided a police officer to serve as a SRO at the <br />Centennial Middle School for many years. Due to recent legislative changes to MN Statute 121A <br />police officers, under contract with the school district, are no longer allowed to provide services in <br />a school setting in the same manner as in previous school years. <br />BACKGROUND <br />During the 2023 Minnesota Legislative session, MN 121A was amended that has impacted police <br />departments’ ability to contract with school districts in MN for SRO services. These law changes <br />also impacts police departments’ ability to provide police officers to work extracurricular events <br />(i.e. high school football games, school dances). <br />Staff has engaged with other public safety entities, school districts, legal counsel and professional <br />organizations to find a solution(s) that would allow police departments to continue to contract <br />with school districts to provide SRO services and we continue this work. As a result of these <br />legislative changes, staff is recommending that we discontinue our contract with Centennial <br />School District to provide an SRO at the Centennial Middle School. <br />Staff has spoken with Centennial School District leadership regarding this matter and they are <br />aware of staff’s recommendation on this matter. <br />We are committed to providing safety services to our entire community, including our schools, but <br />we cannot provide those services under a contract for service until this legislative matter is <br />addressed. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Staff is seeking Council approval authorizing staff to suspend or terminate the contract with the <br />Centennial School District for SRO services through 2024/2025 school year pending legal counsel <br />review and future clarity on the law changes. <br />ATTACHMENTS <br />Centennial School District SRO Contract