AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE HAWTHORNE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE HAWTHORNE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR PROVISION OF A "SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER"
This Agreement is made this 1st day of _ July - 2024, by and between the Hawthorne Police Department ("Department") and the Hawthorne School District ("District"). The Department is a municipal law enforcement agency serving the City of Hawthorne, CA. The District is a public school district serving the Hawthorne, CA, and immediate surrounding communities. Both the Department and District hereinafter are referred to individually as a "Party" and collectively as the "Parties."
1. Recitals
Both the District and Department recognize that:
(a) Public education is essential to the well-being of individuals, communities, and the State of California.
(b) For students to access an excellent public education, they must feel safe in school.
(c) Positive relationships and a supportive school culture are crucial to maintain safety and security in school.
(d) Law enforcement officers can provide an important role in the community.
Both the District and Department acknowledge and agree that:
(a) District staff should and must be responsible for addressing student disciplinary issues.
(b) Students who are referred to police officers for school discipline issues may experience negative consequences as a result, including potential future interactions with the criminal justice system.
(c) Young people who are facing behavioral challenges or engaged in minor criminal activity are most likely to benefit from positive intervention and supports, access to adults who mentor and guide them, and additional counseling or tutoring rather than arrest and exclusion from school. 1 (d) Meaningful engagement of all stakeholders - including students, parents, teachers, and other school staff - is essential to school safety and positive school climate.
Il. Program Goals
Both the District and the Department share the following goals:
(a) To promote school safety and a positive school climate; (b) To create a school environment where conflicts are de-escalated and students are provided appropriate consequences for misbehavior that addresses the root causes of their misbehavior, while minimizing the loss of instructional time;
(c) To create a common understanding that:
a. School administrators and teachers are ultimately responsible for school discipline and culture;
b. Law enforcement should not be involved in the enforcement of school rules, except in a mentoring role when appropriate;
(d) To minimize the number of school-based arrests and citations while maintaining a safe school climate;
(e) To promote effectiveness and accountability.
III. Scope of Services
(a) The Department agrees to provide the District with a full time police officer, sanctioned by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, to serve in the role of a "School Resource Officer," for 40 hours per week;
(b) The 40 hour work week will be consistent with the Department's compressed work schedule for non-Patrol assignments (four days per week, 10 hours per day), agreeable to the District and Department (Monday through Thursday, or Tuesday through Friday);
(c) The Department shall furnish and supply all necessary supervision, personnel, and equipment for the "School Resource Officer" related to his/her official law enforcement responsibilities;
2 (d) The District shall furnish the "School Resource Officer" with any additional necessary equipment not routinely issued to a sworn police officer by the Department.
(e) The District (via District staff) should communicate directly to the "School Resource Officer" on any specific service requests.
IV. Cost Reimbursement
(a) The District will compensate the Department (payable to "City of Hawthorne") for the services provided in an amount of $14,500 per month ($174,000 per year);
(b) The Department will invoice the District for services provided quarterly (every three months; Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec) with the first invoice to be issued upon completion of the first quarter of the "School Resource Officer" position being staffed;
(c) In case of the "School Resource Officer" position not being staffed by the Department, the invoice to the District will be appropriately prorated.
V. Term of Agreement
(a) This Agreement is effective upon execution by both the Department and District, and shall remain in effect until June 30, 2025. (b) The Department and District individually may terminate this agreement at any time. In the event that this agreement is terminated prior to its expiration date, services will be invoiced on a pro-rated basis to the nearest quarter of a month.
VI. Modification
This agreement may be modified only by a written agreement executed by both the Department and District.
3 IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first shown above.
Hawthorne School District Hawthorne Police Department
By:. By: Hay. smal
Brian Markarian, Superintendent Gary Tomatani, Chief of Police Date: 5/8/24 05/13/2024
Date: