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Tehachapi seeks five-year renewal for school resource officer contract, district to fund up to $140,000 per year
Summary
The council considered a five-year contract with the school district to provide one full-time school resource officer (SRO); the district agreed to fund up to $140,000 per school year and the city plans five-year agreements going forward for continuity in school safety services.
Tehachapi city and police officials asked the council on Sept. 15 to authorize a five-year contract with the school district to provide one full-time school resource officer. City presenters said the Unified School District agreed to fund the position up to $140,000 per school year and that the parties intend five-year agreements going forward to provide continuity.
Staff told the council the previous contract structure had been two- and three-year renewals; both the city and the district agreed a five-year term would improve continuity amid recent administrative turnover at the district. The current contract for the 2024–25 school year had technically expired but the officer continued to work under the prior terms while the parties completed approvals. The city’s police chief said the SRO is “a resource” to students and staff rather than strictly “their cop,” and that the position primarily provides on-campus safety, relationship-building and occasional coverage for events.
Council members asked about operational details: the contract covers a 10-month service period aligned with the school year (the summer months are not covered but coverage can be provided as needed for summer school or special events), overtime for events is covered as negotiated, and the $140,000 figure was described as an upper limit that “will not exceed” that amount in a given year. Staff said the city set the cap slightly higher to allow for salary step changes or replacements that could increase the officer’s salary band.
City staff and the city attorney’s office reviewed liability and contract language; a city attorney representative (Mister Schroeder) had reviewed the contract and found it satisfactory. The transcript records council questions and comments supporting the longer-term commitment; a vote was taken later in the meeting but the transcript does not include a clear roll-call vote summary for this specific item in isolation. The article reports the council’s request and contract terms as presented.
