DeKalb City Council extends school resource officer agreement with District 428, affirms code-of-conduct and support programs

The DeKalb City Council voted April 28 to extend its intergovernmental agreement with DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 to continue five school resource officers (SROs) in the district.

City Manager Nicholas introduced the proposed extension as a term-length change from three to five years and said the existing arrangement covers five SROs and a pro rata share of two police vehicles. "The commitment was for five school resource officers," Nicholas said, adding the school district reimburses about "70–75% of the total cost of each annual SRO's base salary and benefits."

Why it matters: Council members and school and police officials credited the SROs and related programs with a measurable decline in some incident categories and with providing direct, nonpunitive supports for students. Police Chief Burt called the officers "the champions of the children that we have in District 428" and highlighted the Handle With Care notification program as a key reason for recent decreases in school incidents.

During discussion, Commander Lakas and Officer Gordon described day-to-day SRO work in buildings and outreach for students and families. Officer Gordon described a parent contact about getting a middle-school student to school and said it illustrated the limits of law-enforcement-led truancy responses. "If we make that a law enforcement action, now it's like, how do we get this kid out of his bed, out of his house, into school without forcing him there?" Gordon said.

District officials said the code of conduct is in active use. Kyle Gert, director of student services for District 428, said the code is "still a living, breathing document" that is disseminated annually, included in the student/parent handbook, and reviewed with administrators. Gert said the district has seen "an increase in some restorative consequences and a decrease in exclusionary discipline in some pockets," and that staff will reevaluate the code next year.

Several council members praised the program's relationship-building elements. Alderman Burbank asked whether SROs should be more active on truancy; Chief Burt and Officer Gordon replied that truancy enforcement raises legal and policy concerns and that non-law-enforcement, administrative approaches are often preferable. The mayor and other council members urged continued partnership and said the city stands ready to support the district.

Action: A motion to bring the IGA extension to the floor was moved by Alderman Larson and seconded by Alderman Perkins. After discussion the council approved the resolution to extend the IGA by roll call vote.

What the vote did not do: The council did not change the SRO code of conduct language during the meeting; district staff said they will continue annual review and dissemination. The council did not direct the police department to pursue truancy enforcement beyond current SRO duties.

Looking ahead: District and police leaders said they will keep tracking data and consider nonpunitive truancy supports, including coordination with transit for missed buses and restorative practices already in use.