To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sheriff’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Maureen Nicklas, 565-8831
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): District 5
Title:
Title
Agreement with West Sonoma County Union High School District for a School Resource Officer at El Molino High School
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the Sheriff to sign an Agreement with West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) for the purpose of providing a School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at El Molino High School for a term of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021. (Majority)
B) Adopt a Resolution adjusting the FY 2019-2020 Adopted Budget, increasing expenditure appropriations and offsetting revenue in the Sheriff’s Office budget by $174,780 for the purpose of funding the proposed School Resource Officer Program. (4/5th vote required)
C) Adopt a Resolution to amend the Sheriff’s position allocation list, adding one time-limited Deputy Sheriff II, effective of October 8, 2019 through June 30, 2021. (Majority)
(4/5th Vote Required)(Fifth District)
end
Executive Summary:
The Sheriff is requesting the Board to authorize an Agreement and make necessary budget adjustments for the purpose of providing a School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at El Molino High School. Due to the rural location of the El Molino High School campus, and students’ increased access and use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs, West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) secured funding from the State Department of Justice Tobacco Grant to fund SRO personnel and activities for a two-year term, beginning July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021. WSCHHSD has requested that the Sheriff’s Office provide the related SRO services at the El Molino High School campus. The Sheriff’s Office also allocates School Resource Officers for Sonoma Valley High School and Windsor High School through a partnership with each of the contracted cities.
Discussion:
Due to challenging economic circumstances and its’ rural location, WSCUHSD has been unable to support an SRO program at the El Molino High School campus. As noted in the WSCUHSD grant proposal, West Sonoma County’s student population reflects many diverse socio-economic peer groups who may have access and use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. There is particular concern with regard to increased youth access to tobacco and marijuana. The State’s legalization of marijuana has led to a prevalence of marijuana dispensaries throughout the community due to the prime growing characteristics of the region. Drug dealers and youth who carry medical marijuana cards make it extremely challenging for law enforcement and school officials to impose marijuana-use laws.
Adding to these challenges is the popularity of easily obtained vaping devices now popular on school campuses. In West Sonoma County, there are currently 33 licensed tobacco retailers. Data collected by the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) in 2015-2016 shows that of the eight major high school districts within Sonoma County, WSCUHSD had the second highest proportion of students (7th, 9th, 11th and non-traditional) reporting electronic cigarette use. WSCUHSD also ranked second out of the eight major Sonoma County school districts for proportion of students (7th, 9th, 11th, and non-traditional) using combustible cigarettes in years 2011-2016.
Additionally, discipline data from WSCUHSD’s three school sites shows an alarming increase in the number of tobacco related discipline infractions over the last three years. In 2016-17 there were 30 discipline incidents involving tobacco possession and use. WSCUHSD disciplined 145 students for vaping or tobacco possession or use in the 2017-28 school year. At the early onset of 2018-19, the District had already disciplined 35 students for similar actions.
Given the dramatic increase in tobacco-related discipline, WSCUHSD received a State Department of Justice Grant to fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. WSCUHSD approached the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office about collaborating to provide the SRO personnel.
Under the Proposed Agreement, the SRO program provides for one full time deputy who will work with the student body and staff located on the El Molino High School campus. The goal of this partnership is to provide proactive law enforcement services to the community and El Molino High School, prevent violence and criminal acts on campus, and provide hands-on tobacco and alcohol prevention and awareness programs for the students. The SRO Program will also allow the SRO to conduct student and parent education classes about the harmful effects of tobacco use, perform tobacco enforcement operations where minors are present, coordinate tobacco retailer education classes to support tobacco cessation by under-age youth, and act as the liaison between the Sheriff’s Office and school administrators. These resources are intended to assist in reducing the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by under-age youth, and provide a bridge for stronger partnerships between the community and law enforcement in supporting the cessation of underage tobacco, alcohol and drug use.
The SRO will be assigned to the school for approximately 1,440 hours (8 hours per day x 180 instructional days) per school year. This allocation of hours is based on secured funding from the State Department of Justice Tobacco Grant. WSCUHSD will establish the SRO’s work schedule to allow for attendance during school hours and possible attendance at certain after hour meetings and/or attendance at school events. Regular working hours may be adjusted on a situational basis with the consent of the SRO’s supervisor to cover scheduled school-related activities. The Sheriff or his designee may temporarily reassign the SRO during school holidays and vacations, and/or during a period of law enforcement emergency.
WSCUHSD will provide 100% of the SRO Program funding for the SRO salary and benefit costs, as well as all related vehicle costs, not to exceed $174,780 in FY 19-20 and $181,530 in FY 20-21. In the event WSCUHSD is unable to provide funding to the SRO program, the services will be terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement. This contract provides full cost recovery for services rendered commensurate with the Board’s FY 19-20 updated Financial Policies.
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
181,530 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
174,780 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
174,780 |
181,530 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
174,780 |
181,530 |
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
174,780 |
181,530 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Funding provided by WSCUHSD through a State Department of Justice Grant offsets all costs associated with the SRO Program, for the hours worked under the contract. The WSCUHSD revenue will cover the hours the SRO provides services for WSCUHSD. When the SRO is not providing services to WSCUHSD, the SRO will cover vacant shifts in law enforcement operations that would otherwise be backfilled with overtime; thereby reducing the Sheriff’s overtime budget accordingly and offsetting the costs for the hours the SRO is not reimbursed by WSCUHSD. There will be no increase to the General Fund as a result of this Program. The Budgetary Resolution will provide appropriations and offsetting revenues needed for FY 19-20. FY 20-21 budget adjustments will be added during the County’s standard budget preparation process.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Deputy Sheriff II (Time-Limited) |
$7,261.44 - $8,826.78 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Approval of the proposed Resolution amending the Sheriff’s Office position allocation list will add 1.0 time-limited, full-time equivalent, Deputy Sheriff II allocation effective October 8, 2019 through June 30, 2021.
Attachments:
1. Agreement for a School Resource Officer Program with the West Sonoma County Union High School District.
2. FY 19-20 Budgetary Resolution
3. Position Allocation List Amendment Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A