FISCAL YEARS
2026-2027
2027-2028
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BY & BETWEEN:
CITY OF VISALIA
AND
VISALIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
FOR
VISALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT YOUTH SERVICES OFFICERS
ASSIGNED AS
CAMPUS OFFICERS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS
JULY 1, 2026
This MOU is entered into, and recognized as a vital working partnership agreement, on the 1St day of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, between the City of Visalia and its Police Department, referred to as the "City", and the Visalia Unified School District, referred to as the "District".
RECITALS
Whereas, the Parties mutually desire to maintain Police Department Youth Services Officers (YSOs), on the District's campuses throughout fiscal years 2026-2027; 2027-2028, for the purpose of providing police presence and services, providing support and direction to the youth and staff of the District, and providing criminal/juvenile investigative services.
Whereas, the Parties further desire to maintain YSOs on the campuses of the following District High Schools: Golden West High School, El Diamante High School, Mt. Whitney High School, Redwood High School; as well as the District’s Middle Schools: Divisadero, La Joya, Valley Oak, Ridgeview, and Green Acres; and assign one YSO to be responsible for providing police presence and services at Sequoia High School and Creekside Community School. This represents a total of ten (10) YSOs assigned to the schools per this contract for the purpose of providing a police presence, police services and the delivery of criminal/juvenile investigative services.
Whereas, the Parties further desire, that a Police Sergeant be retained full time to manage, supervise and direct all YSOs in their day-to-day duties. This position is fully funded by the "City". The YSO Sergeant will solely function as the full-time supervisor of the Visalia Police Department Youth Services Bureau, which will include its YSOs.
Whereas, the Youth Services Officer Program by the District and the City is expected to improve the attendance, grades and behavior of the students on the campuses who have demonstrated problems at school, home and in the community.
Whereas, the Parties understand and agree that information sharing will advance the goals of this MOU and agree to share information including, but not limited to attendance, relevant student records, relevant health information, incident reports, and/or arrest records. Any information sharing by and between the Parties will be in strict compliance with local, state, and federal laws including but not limited to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), California’s Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Civil Code §56 et seq.) the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 7920.000 et seq.), and the California Constitution right to privacy (Article I, § 1) .
Whereas, the Parties are willing to enter into this agreement upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
I. The City shall covenant or provide to the District:
Ten (10) full time YSOs, one each assigned to the five (5) District High Schools and the five (5) District Middle Schools specified above. The YSO assigned to Sequoia High School will be responsible to cover Creekside Community School.
All YSOs will be scheduled to be at the schools of their respective assignments during the hours and times recommended by the school’s principal and mutually agreed upon by the District and the City. Those times are usually during the school day, before school, during the lunch break and immediately after the school day comes to an end.
Regarding time away from work for vacations, training or other time off from campus, reasonable efforts will be made by the management of the Visalia Police Department to schedule the YSOs time off at a time which least interrupts the day-to-day operations of the assigned campus.
All YSOs are Peace Officers as defined in the California Penal Code and are employed by the Visalia Police Department, answerable directly and solely to the Chief of Police or the Chief's designee and as such are supervised by Department management and his/her assigned first line supervisor.
One (1) Visalia Police Department Police Sergeant assigned to supervise the Visalia Police Department Youth Services Bureau, which includes the City's YSOs.
All persons providing the services to the Youth Services Program, provided for herein, shall be employees of the City and shall at all times be subject to the direct supervision and control of the Visalia Police Department. The City shall have the sole responsibility of paying the salaries, taxes (including, but not limited to, federal Social Security taxes, and federal and California unemployment taxes), workers compensation insurance and all expenses related to each employee of the City.
A member of the District, selected by the District Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee, shall be part of the interview and selection process for YSOs.
II. Each YSO shall provide the following to the campus of his/her respective assignment as well as any campus/facility deemed necessary by the YSO Sergeant:
The primary YSO attire will be the police service uniform, with the only exception to this dress code being authorized by the YSO Sergeant or other designee of the Chief of Police.
City vehicles utilized by the YSOs will be a marked police vehicle, provided by the City.
Each YSO will work on his/her assigned campus or feeder schools at his/her primary workstation throughout the school year in a collaborative manner with the site administrators and staff; maintaining the highest level of visibility possible. It is understood that during any workday, should an urgent need or extraordinary circumstance arise requiring his/her presence at another District location other than his/her assigned campus, the YSO shall upon request and on an "as needed" basis, be required to assist with said situation.
Other short term absences from the assigned campus by the YSO may occur for administrative, training or other reasons as deemed necessary by the YSO Sergeant.
YSOs will develop and maintain open communication and accountability with the administration of their assigned campus, and foster and maintain that accountability with the management of the school so the District is always aware of the YSOs status, on/off campus.
YSOs will make a positive effort to interact with students as a representative of the Visalia Police Department and act as an adult role model at the schools. A limited amount of overtime funds will be available to staff certain high school events with YSO services. Both agencies, VPD and VUSD, will agree on those events.
YSOs will utilize intervention, prevention or suppression skills with the students who are involved in criminal activity or are in need of special attention, counseling or enforcement. The YSOs are not responsible for requests to resolve routine discipline problems involving students.
YSOs will conduct investigations of criminal/juvenile related cases, where the victim, witness or suspect attends the school of the YSOs assignment, whether the case is an on-site case or case which was assigned as a follow-up investigation.
YSOs will work with the District, specifically the Student Services Division, to see that all critical information involving criminal activity at the District or involving District students, shall be filtered to the schools consistent with applicable laws.
YSOs shall make every effort to see that school employees understand the instructional, investigative, or enforcement role of the YSO and how to best utilize the services provided by the Police Department.
YSOs will provide input and guidance on how to respond to bomb threat, or active shooter situation, or other situations that could lead to a lock down at the school sites and appropriate District personnel.
III. The District shall agree to the following:
A designated parking location for each assigned Youth Services Officer (YSO) shall be identified at each school site. The location shall be mutually agreed upon by the Visalia Police Department and Visalia Unified School District and selected to provide practical and advantageous access for school operations, emergency response, and officer support needs.
Each School site shall maintain adequate office space on-site, along with a desk, telephone, district-wide school radio, office supplies and a computer to access VUSD, appropriate student information, and District e-mail.
The Principal of each site shall designate a site administrator as the liaison to the YSO and provide a system of accountability by which the YSO can follow which is conducive to the normal operations of both the City and the District. The District is responsible for administration of routine student discipline, including student code of conduct violations and student misbehavior, and the YSO will not be involved in that process unless the violation or misbehavior involves allegations of criminal conduct.
In order to maintain the success of the program, the Principal of each site shall provide timely feedback to the supervising YSO Sergeant and designated VUSD Manager in circumstances where said Principal may have concerns related to the performance of the assigned YSO, or questions related to the content of this agreement.
IV. Financial Agreements:
A. The parties to this MOU agree to the following financial obligations:
The District and the City hereby agree to share in the costs, salaries, benefits, vehicle maintenance and estimated overtime of ten (10) YSOs (at the same pay level of a City Police Officer) each. a. The City will fund one-half (1/2) of the cost associated with the ten (10) YSO positions, including salaries, benefits and vehicle maintenance, and estimated overtime for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 school years. b. The District will fund one-half (1/2) of the cost associated with the ten (10) YSO positions, including salaries, benefits and vehicle maintenance, and estimated overtime for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 school years.
2. The City shall provide a Police Sergeant to function as the full time Supervisor of the Visalia Police Department Youth Services Bureau. The City shall fund all salary, benefits, and equipment costs of the Sergeant’s position.
The City of Visalia will provide the District with an invoice at the end of each quarter for the costs noted above as they apply to that quarter. The District shall pay that invoice within 30 days to the City of Visalia.
The cost breakdown for the Youth Services Program for each agency is as follows:
V. Miscellaneous Provisions:
This MOU shall commence on July 1, 2026, and continue in full force through June 30, 2028.
This MOU may be terminated at any time by either party upon 90 days prior written notice to the other party.
The City and the District shall hold harmless, defend, and indemnify each other from and against any liability, claims, and actions, costs, damages, or losses from injury including death to any persons, or damage to any property as a result of any act or omission of the indemnifying party or its employees or agents in the performance of activities under this agreement.
Any notice to be given hereunder, shall be written and given by either personal delivery or by first class mail, postage pre-paid and addressed as follows:
City of Visalia: Leslie Caviglia
City Manager
City Administration
202 N. Santa Fe, St. Visalia, CA 93291
City of Visalia: Jason Salazar
Chief of Police
Visalia Police Department
303 S. Johnson Visalia, CA 93291
VUSD District: Kirk Shrum
Superintendent
Visalia Unified School District
5000 W. Cypress Avenue Visalia, CA 93277
This MOU shall not be changed, altered, or modified unless the parties hereto agree to such alteration, change, or modification in writing and is signed by all parties.
This MOU may not be assigned or transferred by either party without the prior written consent of the other parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Memorandum of Understanding on the day and year written below.
DATED:____________________ ________________________________ City of Visalia
Leslie Caviglia, City Manager
DATED:____________________ ________________________________ City of Visalia
Jason Salazar, Chief of Police
DATED:_____________________ _________________________________ Visalia Unified School District
Kirk Shrum, Superintendent
4 2
7