In 1995, the District entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Fort Collins on behalf of Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS), and with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) to implement the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. FCPS SROs are located at each comprehensive high school and middle school within the city limits of Fort Collins, Larimer County deputies are located at Cache La Poudre Middle School and Wellington Middle School. Starting in 2019, the Town of Timnath police began providing services at Timnath Elementary School and Bethke Elementary School; services are allocated to all other elementary and options schools using the feeder system pattern when needed.
A presentation with the opportunity for discussion on how the current SRO program operates and a plan for community engagement will be provided during the June 23, 2020 Board meeting.
During the 2020-2021 school year PSD, along with community members and representatives of the Fort Collins Police Services, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and Timnath Police Department will evaluate SRO involvement in school disciplinary actions, student engagement, and administrative actions. A Community Advisory Council will work with all agencies to develop more consistent and standard operating procedures to insure equitable outcomes of investigations and interactions.
By April 2021, PSD staff will provide to the Board of Education summary data gathered from 2020-2021 school year regarding adherence to established role of SROs and process and procedures for discipline. Review of school discipline data, themes from Student Connections Survey, reports made through new reporting system specific to SROs/discipline and themes and recommendations specific to SROs from stakeholder groups including: EDAC, Community Advisory Council, Student Equity Coalition, Teacher Equity Coalition, Student and Family Program Specialists.
The proposed contracts, which are attached for the Board’s review, will provide the SRO Program for the 2020-2021 school year, commencing on July 1, 2020 and continue in effect through June 30, 2021. Cost will be billed to the District on a quarterly basis as outlined in the agreements’ Exhibit A. The LCSO contract will be signed by the County after the June 9 Board of Education meeting.