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Council approves city-funded school resource officer MOU; officer to rotate among schools
Summary
The council authorized a memorandum of understanding to establish a School Resource Officer (SRO) paid entirely by the city. The officer will rotate among schools, attend after-school activities and was approved with support from the district superintendent.
WOODLAND, Wash. — The Woodland City Council voted May 20 to authorize a memorandum of understanding with the Woodland Police Officers Association to establish a School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the district.
Mayor Todd Dinehart and police leadership told the council the city will fund 100% of the SRO position and that it has been budgeted in the city's FY2025 budget. Mayor Dinehart said the city, the police chief and the guild president have met with Asha, the school district superintendent, and the district's facilities director, and that the district supports the arrangement.
The chief described the SRO role as a rotating assignment among the district's multiple schools; the officer will spend time at each campus and will also be present at after-school activities. The mayor framed the role as relationship-building: "I just think this is a long time coming, and I'm really excited that it's finally in front of us... these schools feel like there's somebody that is familiar that these kids all are getting to know on a regular basis," he said.
Public testimony at the meeting included community members who said they welcomed the SRO as a way to provide a consistent, known law enforcement presence at schools. Mayor Dinehart said the superintendent Asha was unable to attend the meeting but "fully supports this and is in favor of it."
The council approved the MOU by roll-call vote (ayes recorded for all members present). The motion and second were entered on the record and no council members voted against the measure. No additional details on the officer's hiring timeline or start date were given at the meeting; staff said the position is budgeted and will be implemented next school year.
