AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF HAWTHORNE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
CENTINELA VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
FOR PROVISION OF A "SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER" ("SRO")
This Agreement is made this 1 day of July, 2024, by and between the City of Hawthorne Police Department ("City") and the Centinela Valley Union High School District ("District"). The City of Hawthorne Police Department is a municipal law enforcement agency serving the City of Hawthorne, CA. The District is a public school district serving Hawthorne, CA, and immediate surrounding communities. The City and District hereinafter are referred to individually as a "Party" and collectively as the "Parties."
I. Recitals:
Part Q of Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended, defines an SRO as a "career law enforcement officer, with sworn authority, deployed in community-oriented policing, and assigned by the employing police City or agency to work in collaboration with school and community-based organizations." The District desires that the City provide it with an SRO who is assigned to, and maintain a presence at the District school in the City of Hawthorne, as defined in this Agreement.
Both the District and City 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) SRO's can provide an important role in the community.
Both the District and City acknowledge and agree that:
a) District staff should and must be responsible for addressing student disciplinary issues.
b) Students 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.
d) Meaningful engagement of all stakeholders - including students, parents, teachers, and other school staff, is essential to school safety and positive school climate. e) City and District shall abide by Education Code Section 48906. lI. Program Goals:
Both the District and the City 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 City 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 an "SRO" for 40 hours per week. City should assign an officer to the SRO position who has experience in community policing, youth development, and restorative practices, and who has been approved by the District. City shall make every effort to assign an officer to the SRO position whose characteristics meet the triad plus one concept - teacher/trainers, counselors, and law enforcement officers, who are, above all else, role models.
a. Teacher/Trainer: An SRO should be qualified to teach law related education (LRE) courses to students.
b. Counselor: An SRO should be a resource for faculty, students, and parents in the providing of informal counseling and/or advice. An SRO who has received extensive training regarding programs and services available to handle problems and conflicts is preferred. Getting the right kind of help to those that need it is one of the SRO's highest priorities.
c. Law Enforcement: Any criminal or law related issue that arises on campus is the SRO's responsibility when on duty and available. In many ways, his/her school is no different than any other patrol beat. Whether it is child abuse, truancy, disorderly conduct, theft, or some type of assault, the SRO is there to handle it quickly and professionally. The SRO should work closely with school administration in these issues.
b) The 40-hour work week will be consistent with the City's compressed work schedule for non-Patrol assignments (four days per week, 10 hours per day), agreeable to the District and City (Monday through Thursday, or Tuesday through Friday). c) The City shall furnish and supply all necessary supervision, personnel, and equipment for the SRO, related to his/her official law enforcement responsibilities. d) The SRO shall wear the regulation City uniform and operate a marked City vehicle while on duty unless otherwise authorized by a City supervisor after consultation with the District.
e) The District shall furnish the SRO with any additional necessary equipment not routinely issued to a sworn police officer by the City. f) The District (via District staff) should communicate directly to the SRO on any specific service requests.
g) To the extent feasible, SRO will participate in positive student activities in the District in order to build trusting and respectful relationships with students, families and staff.
SRO will collaborate with school-based community organizations, parent teacher organizations, school advisory councils, student government and District staff to develop opportunities for positive activities, such as mentoring programs. h) The SRO will augment school site administrators, faculty, and security staff to keep schools safe from intruders. As practicable, SRO will work with school security to identify security issues and to take reasonable steps to create a safer environment for students. However, SRO is neither a member of the security staff nor a supervisor of security officers. SRO has primary responsibility for (1) handling all SRO service at the assigned school site, and (2) coordinating the response of other police resources at the school while on duty.
i) Criminal activity that must be reported pursuant to Education Code Section 48902 will be reported to the SRO, or to the City if the SRO is not available. j) District administrators have primary responsibility to ensure consistent enforcement of school rules and policies. Neither SRO nor any other City police officer shall act as a school disciplinarian. Disciplining students is a school responsibility. Pursuant to District policy, District administrators shall prioritize alternatives to school removals and police involvement, such as the use of Restorative Practices in Support of a Comprehensive School Climate, Restorative Justice and Alternatives to Suspensions and Expulsions.
k) City will ensure that this Agreement is distributed to its SRO and that appropriate training regarding the provisions of this Agreement and its responsibilities is provided.
The District Superintendent or their designee(s) shall ensure that this Agreement is distributed to all of its school sites and that appropriate training regarding the provisions of this Agreement and staff responsibilities is provided. An SRO may, if requested by District, (1) participate in at least one training per year provided by District regarding Restorative Practices, youth development and choices, relevant confidentiality laws, special education laws, and strategies for working and communicating effectively with students in the Special Education program. These trainings should also include a significant youth-led component that focuses on building relationships with youth and understanding the perspective of youth. Youth- centered groups and commissions can be consulted to develop the training and provided with an opportunity to help lead the training. SRO may provide professional development to District staff in the following areas: gang awareness and prevention, crisis response, and personal safety, including sexual harassment. District security staff may avail themselves of City trainings for their officers. To establish and maintain a safe school environment, SRO may also provide expertise and training for the school community (students, staff. parents) with information regarding crime trends and current laws, including juvenile statutes and procedures relevant to schools. District invites and encourages SRO participation in professional development and training opportunities in the areas of Restorative Justice/Practices, Youth Development, teaching methodology and practice, and other educational reform initiatives to facilitate their understanding of the school culture. The District Superintendent or their designee(s) will inform the SRO about relevant trainings that are appropriate.
IV. Cost Reimbursement
a) The District will compensate the City (payable to "City of Hawthorne") for the services provided in an amount of $14,500 per month ($174,000 per year). b) The City 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 "SRO" position being staffed. c) In case of the "SRO" position not being staffed by the City, the invoice to the District will be appropriately prorated.
V. Term of Agreement
a) This Agreement is effective upon execution by both the City and District, and shall remain in effect until June 30, 2025.
b) The City 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. Indemnification
a) To the extent allowed by California law, City shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the District, its trustees, officials, officers, agents, and employees from any loss, liability, claim, injury, or damage solely arising out of the negligence or willful misconduct of City in connection with, performance of the duties and obligations of the City and its employees, officers, and agents set forth in this Agreement. b) To the extent allowed by California law, District shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the City, its officers, agents, and employees from any loss, liability, claim, injury, or damage solely arising out of the negligence or willful misconduct of District in the performance of the duties and obligations of the District and its employees set forth in this Agreement.
c) This mutual indemnification agreement is adopted pursuant to California Government Code Section 895.4.
d) This Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
VIl. Insurance
Without in any way limiting the Party's liability under any other section of this Agreement, both Parties will maintain in force during the full term of the Agreement, insurance in the following amounts and coverage. a. Workers' Compensation Employers' liability limits of not less than $500,000 each accident and aggregate to cover each Party's own employees. b. Automobile Liability Insurance policies shall be endorsed to provide the following: Name as additional insured, the other Party. c. General Liability Insurance with coverage of not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence. Said insurance shall name the other Party as an additional insured and the other Party shall be provided with a certificate of insurance and policy endorsement that indicates such no later than the commencement of this Agreement.
d. Notice in writing shall be given at least 30 days in advance of cancellation, reduction in coverage limit, or intended non-renewal of any policy. e. Insurance shall be provided by a company authorized by law to transaction insurance business in the State of California.
f. The Parties may satisfy these insurance requirements through participation in a joint powers insurance pool or other similar arrangement as allowed under the California Government Code.
VIII. Modification
This agreement may be modified only by a written agreement executed by both the City and District.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first shown above.
Centinela Valley Union High School District City of Hawthorne Police Department By: to TuM By:Nam
Dr. Stephen Nellman, Superintendent Gary Tomatani, Chief of Police Date: 2 Jur 21 Date: May 16", 2024
Board approved: 6/27/2024