REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  June  20, 2017
CATEGORY:  Consent - Law and Justice-13.

SUBJECT:

Renewal agreement with the Shasta Union High School District for the provision of services of a School Resource Officer, Shasta County Deputy Sheriff, to be assigned to Foothill High School.

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Jason Barnhart, Lieutenant, (530) 225-3700

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Tom Bosenko, Sheriff-Coroner

RECOMMENDATION

Approve and authorize:  (1) The Chairman to sign a renewal agreement with the Shasta Union High School District in an amount not to exceed $130,065 for the  provision of a Deputy Sheriff School Resource Officer assigned to the Foothill High School campus for the 2017-18 school year for the period August 16, 2017 through June 6, 2018; and (2) the County Executive Officer, or his/her designee, to sign future School Resource Officer revenue agreements provided that they are in substantially similar form to this agreement with a maximum agreement compensation not to exceed $200,000.

SUMMARY

The Sheriff’s Office partners with two Shasta County school districts to provide SROs and this recommended renewal agreement will continue that relationship with the SUHSD through the 2017-18 school year.

DISCUSSION

The Sheriff’s Office has been providing an SRO to SUHSD at Foothill High School each year since 1999. This is a renewal agreement for 2017-18.

The SRO’s duties include, but are not limited to: enforcement of truancy violations; targeting violence; gangs; racial conflicts; drug activity; education of parents and students about gangs and early warning signs of narcotic use; involvement of parents in redirecting at-risk behavior; working in collaboration with school staff on problems in and around the school; and the development, refinement, and training regarding school safety plans.  The SRO may also assist patrol officers with high priority or emergency calls during their workday.  During school breaks the SRO assumes regular patrol duties.

Authorizing the County Executive Officer to sign future School Resource Officer revenue agreements will create process efficiencies as there is limited time between knowing which school(s) need a resource officer, whether the school district(s) will be funding one, and obtaining necessary signatures before the school year ends.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board may choose to not approve this agreement and the Sheriff’s Office would not assign a dedicated deputy to Foothill High School and would need to absorb higher salary and benefit costs for approximately 1 month due to the loss of this contract revenue until a planned Deputy Sheriff retirement occurs at the end of August 2017.  The Sheriff’s Office would still respond to calls for service at the school, but the response times could be delayed. 

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

The County Administrative Office has reviewed the recommendation. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.  Risk Management has reviewed and approved this agreement.

FINANCING

The Shasta Union High School District will be billed monthly at the rates established in the agreement for a base contract cost of $120,172. Overtime, if incurred will be billed at the deputy’s overtime rate plus applicable benefit expenses and is capped at an additional $9,893 for a total maximum compensation to the County of $130,065. In the event the SRO is called away from the district on an emergency, such as a major fire, and such time away from the district exceeds 40 cumulative hours, the district will receive a credit for the time not on campus as provided in the agreement.

Expenditures and revenues associated with the provision of services under this agreement are included in the requested Sheriff’s Fiscal Year 2017/18 Patrol Budget. There is no additional General Fund Impact with approval of the recommendations.