Pembroke School Committee approves updated school resource officer agreement; discussion focuses on door security, trails and traffic safety

The Pembroke School Committee unanimously approved an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Pembroke Police Department that clarifies how the school resource officer (SRO) works in district schools and how the district and police will share information.

The MOU, described by the superintendent as modeled on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education template and comparing the district’s 2015 version with the current draft, was approved “as amended” after a brief round of questions about qualifications and conflict-of-interest procedures. Motion to accept the MOU was moved by Sue and seconded by Allison; the vote was recorded as unanimous in the public meeting.

Why it matters: The agreement defines day-to-day SRO duties, information-sharing with school administrators and lines of communication between the police and the schools. Committee members said they want clearer public information about negotiations and personnel-related matters where legally permitted; the district said it will add a public link with negotiable information and redactions required by law.

Key details and discussion

The draft MOU was described as similar to a DESE template and as an update to the district’s 2015 document. The superintendent told the committee the new agreement outlines “how the school resource officer works within our building over the course of the school day, and how we work together on things that happen outside of school.” Chief McDonald and School Resource Officer Mary Beth Simmons…