OCPS, five municipalities continue SRO pay talks as board weighs alternatives

Orange County Public Schools officials told the school board Tuesday they remain in negotiations with five municipal governments and their police agencies over pay for school resource officers (SROs) and how any new state Safe Schools funds would be distributed.

Superintendent Dr. Vasquez said the district presented an offer that would allow increases in SRO pay for the 2025‑26 and 2026‑27 school years if the statewide Safe Schools allocation increases. The offer included a cap; negotiators for the municipalities countered and asked that any increase be uncapped, she said.

The municipalities' counterproposal, as described to the board, would give the municipalities 100% of the first $20,000,000 in new statewide Safe Schools dollars and then a 60/40 split (60% to municipalities) on a subsequent increase. Dr. Vasquez said the district submitted a counteroffer but the parties have not reached final agreement.

Why it matters: Several board members said the dispute threatens school safety planning and could lead the district to seek alternatives if a deal is not reached. The current short‑term agreement covering the five jurisdictions expires June 30, creating a timeline pressure for negotiators.

What officials said: Dr. Vasquez told the board that the district included contract language intended to prevent sudden removal of SROs: either party would give six months’ notice before pulling officers from schools. Kashara Cowans, who addressed the board after Dr. Vasquez, said police chiefs from the five jurisdictions and Winter Park’s city manager attended negotiation sessions.

Board reaction and alternatives discussed: Several trustees voiced frustration with the municipal positions. Member Gallo called the municipalities’ posture “hardball,” and Member Ferrant urged the board to consider alternatives, including hiring guardians with prior law‑enforcement experience, asking the sheriff’s office to cover officers in the short term, or creating district‑employed officers. Dr. Vasquez said the sheriff’s office lacks capacity now to absorb additional schools because of vacancies; she told the board the district currently has roughly a dozen SRO vacancies it has been unable to fill at district wage levels.

Timeline and budget context: Board members asked about the timing of state budget allocations. The district noted the governor’s proposed budget and the DOE Safe Schools allocation will go through legislative and executive steps this spring; formal local budget effects are uncertain until the state process is complete. Member Ferrant and others pointed out the statewide Safe Schools amount discussed during negotiations was a figure for the full state pool, not the district’s share; a board member (Member Ferrant) estimated Orange County’s portion would amount to about 7% of any increase.

Next steps: Negotiations will continue. District staff said they have prepared counter language to the municipalities’ latest request and are sharing that privately with the other parties. Board members pressed for contingency planning in case no agreement is reached before June 30.

Ending: Trustees said they want a resolution that secures SRO coverage without pressuring district operational budgets; if negotiations fail, the board directed staff to continue exploring alternatives and to report back with cost analyses.