Board narrowly renews SRO agreement after heated debate over safety, equity and cost

The Oxnard Union High School District board voted 3–2 on May 6 to renew a multi‑year agreement with the Oxnard Police Department to provide school resource officers (SROs) at several high school campuses.

The renewal covers SRO services at Channel Islands, Del Sol, Hueneme, Oxnard and Pacifica High Schools. Under the three‑year arrangement staff described to the board, the district will cover roughly 75% of program costs — roughly $685,308 per year in the proposed contract — with the City of Oxnard covering the remainder.

The item produced some of the meeting's most sustained debate. Trustees and members of the public split along several lines: some urged continuation of the SRO program as a safety measure and relationship‑building resource, citing prior campus incidents and the SROs' rapid response role; others questioned whether law‑enforcement presence on campus undermines trust with students of color, immigrant families, or otherwise vulnerable groups and whether the district is effectively "double taxing" residents for police services already funded at the city level.

Trustee Jesse Flores Haro and Trustee Estrada urged more community input and said trustees should study alternatives such as enhanced wellness centers, restorative justice and non‑police safety staff. "We continue to evaluate whether the presence of law enforcement on our campuses is the most effective approach to meeting social, emotional and safety needs," Trustee Flores Haro said.

Trustees who supported renewal cited the lack of an immediate operational alternative and the district's existing board policy intended to limit day‑to‑day policing and protect student rights. Superintendent Dr. McCoy reminded the board that the district policy requires protocols to preserve student privacy and that Oxnard Police maintains campus engagement and regular site meetings.

After a procedural pause in which trustees agreed to discuss the item further, the board took a roll call on renewal: the motion passed with three yes votes and two no votes. Dissenting trustees said they plan to press for broader community forums and more data about SRO interactions, training, and any disciplinary outcomes tied to SRO involvement.

Staff said the contract renewal does not preclude future changes and committed to providing trustees the board policy and additional materials on training, log practices, and past activity reports at sites that have SROs. Officials also said staff will pursue additional public engagement and report back prior to future renewals.