The Moline Coal Valley School District Board of Education on July 28 approved a memorandum of understanding with the City of Moline that permits the Moline Police Department to place a Skydio drone dock on the roof of Moline High School and to access power and a school-provided internet port for the system.

The MOU, presented at the district office by Dr. Savage and Moline Police Department leadership, formalizes a partnership to host a first-responder drone dock intended to expand the department’s rapid aerial response. Chief Galt told the board, “This is the item that I'm asking for approval from the Board of Education to place on top of Moline High School. It's pretty simple.”

Why it matters: the dock is intended to extend the police department’s coverage and reduce time to airborne deployment. Chief Galt said the dock opens remotely, the drone can be airborne in about 20 seconds and has an operational radius of roughly three miles; flight endurance is about 45 minutes. The police department told the board it has purchased the dock and the drone and will cover installation costs; the district is being asked to provide about 16 square feet of rooftop space, power and a fiber/internet port.

Details and limits: the police said the unit is temperature controlled (to withstand hot summers and cold winters), that the dock measures about 31 by 37 by 55 (inches) and that the dock and drone together weigh roughly 229 pounds. The department said it already holds an FAA authorization that allows beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations and that deployments will be subject to state law and internal controls. Chief Galt said deployments cannot be used for “proactive surveillance” and must be triggered by an emergency call to 911, natural-disaster responses or other legally authorized uses, and that the department will report each deployment to the state's attorney’s office.

Board questions focused on community outreach, student and staff notifications, and operator training. Dr. Savage said administrators would receive talking points for principals and that the district would coordinate communication. The police department said it has 11 Part 107–certified pilots for current drones and intends to train command staff and dispatchers to operate the BVLOS-capable system in-house.

Legal/administrative safeguards: the presenters said both city and district legal departments reviewed a draft MOU that delineates responsibilities and repair obligations; the police said they will repair roof work to its original condition if the program ends. They also noted the city council and a committee of the whole have reviewed the proposal as part of the city’s approval process.

Outcome and next steps: the board approved the MOU by roll call vote (all voting members recorded as “Aye” on the motion). The police department will proceed with installation planning and coordinate required conduit, power and an internet port with district facilities; media outreach is being deferred until district and city approvals are complete. The department said it has a five-year contract with the drone vendor and that technology and agreements will be revisited at that time.

What remains: the MOU and legal steps were approved, but operational details (placement, conduit routing, maintenance schedule and exact operator roster) will be finalized by the police department and district staff under the terms of the MOU and applicable law.