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USD 383 to maintain two SROs for 2025-26; Riley County Police seeks cost-sharing plan for future years
Summary
District staff and Riley County Police Department reached a negotiated proposal that would allow the district to keep two student resource officers at Manhattan High School for the 2025-26 school year at no cost, with a new flat-rate cost-sharing plan proposed to begin in fiscal 2027.
Nathan Downs (referred to in the meeting as Mister Downes) updated the board on discussions with the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) about cost sharing for school resource officers stationed at Manhattan High School.
Downs told the board that RCPD had asked whether the district would share costs for two SROs assigned to the high school and that multiple meetings reduced the department's original request to a lower figure. "For the 25-26 school year, ... we would be able to maintain both SRO positions and have it at no cost for the school district," he said. Downs added that the revised ask for the district "is about 40% of what the original ask was for those 2 positions."
He described a proposed flat annual rate that would cover the officers and the events coverage and reduce the need for the district to track hourly overtime. Under the plan, the district could pay the flat annual rate by prepaying (using year-end funds) beginning in fiscal year 2027. Downs said the arrangement would avoid hourly micromanagement and include event coverage without separate overtime charges.
Board members asked clarifying questions; Downs said details remain under negotiation and that staff would bring a formal recommendation when numbers and contract terms are finalized.
No board vote occurred on May 20; staff said they would return with a recommendation and specific figures for board consideration.
