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Decatur approves school resource officer MOU with City Schools of Decatur after debate about training and student concerns
Summary
The commission approved an updated Memorandum of Understanding with the City Schools of Decatur to provide a minimum of two school resource officers (one at the high school, one at the middle school). The school system will fund 75% of the SRO cost and the city will fund 25%; the MOU requires SRO training and a two‑year commitment and can be terminated on 30 days' notice.
The City Commission approved a renewed School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement with the Board of Education of the City Schools of Decatur that commits the city to provide a minimum of two trained SROs and sets cost‑sharing terms with the school system.
Chief Scott Richards presented the updated MOU, which will place one officer at Decatur High School and one at Beacon Hill Middle School, with the school system funding 75% of the full cost (salary and benefits) and the city 25%. The MOU requires applicants to have at least one year of experience with the Decatur Police Department, complete at least 40 hours of SRO training (state or a NASRO program), submit letters of intent and participate in a police interview process. The agreement includes a two‑year commitment for assigned officers, provision for summer duties and training, and language allowing termination with 30 days’ notice; staff indicated the formal term runs to 08/03/2029 with renewal provisions.
Commissioners and members of the public asked detailed questions about how SROs will be selected, how they will coordinate with the school safety director, and how the city will avoid creating a feeling of ‘‘militarization’’ in schools. One commissioner relayed student concerns that children do not want schools to feel militarized and emphasized the need for SROs to operate under the city’s community policing philosophy; staff and the chief said the role is intended to be relationship‑focused, with expectations to teach in classrooms, attend events and build trust. The MOU also requires coordination between the SROs, the school safety director and school administrators and specifies that the school system will cover overtime for after‑hours events such as sporting events.
The commission voted to approve the agreement. Staff said implementation will occur as officers are selected and trained and will be contingent on ongoing staffing availability; additional SROs could be added later if staffing permits and the school system requests expansion.
