Council approves school‑resource officer interlocal; school district to reimburse full SRO time in schools

Moses Lake City Council approved an interlocal agreement with the Moses Lake School District to continue the city’s School Resource Officer (SRO) program.

Councilmember Estelle Lombardi asked for clarification of a phrase she had read in the draft that referred generally to the school board “providing funding.” Police and city staff clarified during the meeting that the district will reimburse the city for the SROs while they are serving as school resource officers. “Yes. Everything is reimbursed, including if they have fill in SRO,” the police chief said when asked to confirm whether reimbursements include substitute or fill‑in officers.

Staff explained the city pays SRO salaries when officers are working outside schools (for example during summer breaks or when the officers are scheduled on patrol). The SRO program has a history of shared cost arrangements; staff explained the current agreement clarifies that the district reimburses the city for officer time while assigned to schools, and that the city bears costs when officers are not serving in schools.

The council then moved, seconded and approved the interlocal agreement in a vote taken during the meeting.

The agreement will be implemented by the police department and the school district per the terms of the interlocal contract; staff said they will provide follow‑up information to the council about funding sources (including the role of the school levy) and about training and fill‑in arrangements as the program continues.