For Immediate Release:  November 11, 2011

 

The City Of Palm Bay Says “No” to School Resource Officers

 

PALM BAY, FLORIDA –After weeks of talks with Brevard Public Schools (BPS), The City of Palm Bay chose not to commit financial support for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program in the Palm Bay secondary schools. Earlier, the city asked for time before signing in order to examine their budget.  BPS and other agencies had already committed funds to support this valuable program. However, without the additional dollars from Palm Bay, BPS will not be able to afford the School Resource Officer Program.

Dr. Mark Mullins, South Area Superintendent says that principals find school resource officers to be a vital part of their team. “The SRO Program provides officers who have been trained to understand the unique culture at their respective school assignment. Consequently, an SRO becomes a viable member of the Administrative team at the school. The loss of SROs at our Palm Bay schools presents additional challenges for the school to continue to be proactive in working with students as they have been.” Mullins added, “Campus safety is more than just officer presence, it is enhanced by the relationships that the SRO is able to develop with students and staff members.  I cannot completely describe the added dimension and benefit that SROs bring to our schools; this is a tremendous and unfortunate loss. 

Until this year, BPS has had agreements with nine local city and law enforcement agencies to provide the SRO Program in Brevard schools.  In the agreements, the funding for the SROs is shared by BPS and the local agencies.   In the 2010-2011 school year, BPS had 28 SROs from all nine agencies serving in 28 secondary schools.  For the 2011-12 school year, with The City of Palm Bay not entering into the agreement, the district will have 25 SROs serving 25 secondary schools.

“The City of Palm Bay’s suggestion was to have schools hire hourly security,” said Andrea Alford, Director of District and School Security. “However, the SRO Program is not a “security” program. The officers develop meaningful bonds with students based on trust that foster students to make positive choices.” Alford said, “I am saddened that the City of Palm Bay would pass the responsibility of the SRO Program solely onto the district. This program is vital to our schools and an hourly replacement that may change from day to day simply cannot satisfy our needs.”

Brevard Public Schools pays 50 percent of the salaries of school resource officers at its sites.  For the secondary schools in Palm Bay, BPS pays $88,500 total to cover costs for the three officers at Bayside and Heritage High and Southwest Middle.