Board approves lease of surplus SRO vehicles to city amid questions about value

The Richmond Community Schools board on March 18 approved a resolution to lease surplus law‑enforcement vehicles to the City of Richmond for use as school‑resource‑officer vehicles, drawing questions from trustees about resale value and financial prudence.

Member Stoltz moved to accept resolution 2026‑5 authorizing the leasing of surplus law‑enforcement vehicles to the city; the measure was seconded and adopted after discussion. Trustees asked why the district was not selling the vehicles instead of leasing them for $1. Administration explained the vehicles are old, valued at roughly $2,500–$3,000 each, are configured specifically for law enforcement and would cost the district to retrofit or prepare for auction.

Chiefs of operations and administration said the Richmond Police Department would assume insurance, maintenance and day‑to‑day care of the vehicles and would limit use to SRO duties on school sites. “They will insure and they will maintain and care on the vehicles at all times,” one administrator said, adding the department planned to rewrap vehicles with RCS/RPD SRO graphics and keep them dedicated to school use.

Trustees pressed for clarity about long‑term plans and possible financial return; board members noted the vehicles have been idle and that transferring upkeep to RPD could free space and reduce the district’s insurance burden. One trustee requested an executive‑session briefing on how the city intends to deploy the vehicles for safety reasons; administrators agreed to provide more detail privately.

The board recorded the vote as passing with one abstention (6 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention).