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Board reviews SRO contract renewal; district to host officer update June 9
Summary
The board received a first read of the district’s School Resource Officer (SRO) contract with the Forest Grove Police Department for 2026‑27; the agreement covers half the officer’s salary for time spent supporting district schools, and staff said a second SRO will be pursued only if funding allows.
At the May 26 meeting the board reviewed the draft School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement between the Forest Grove School District and the Forest Grove Police Department for the 2026‑27 school year. Superintendent Dr. West summarized the arrangement: the district pays for the portion of the officer’s time spent supporting Forest Grove schools (roughly half the officer’s salary under the current agreement) rather than the officer’s full municipal salary.
Dr. West said Chief Barzili (new police chief) helped draft the agreement. She also noted the district and department have discussed a second SRO position; both parties agree the department wants to secure funding for a second officer before pursuing that expansion. "When the Forest Grove Police Department is ready to have a conversation about a second SRO … we will come back to the school board with an amendment at that time," Dr. West said.
Board members asked how the SRO is evaluated and how feedback from students and families is collected; Dr. West said the SRO is evaluated primarily as a police officer and that the department conducts separate personnel and performance processes, but she will discuss ways to gather and present feedback when the officer presents on June 9. Directors also raised questions about the SRO’s role when incidents involving district students occur off campus (for example in the summer) and whether the district bears any financial responsibility for police investigations that occur outside the contract period; staff said the district would not be financially responsible for off‑duty police investigations.
Next step: Officer Yiance (SRO) will present an update to the board at the June 9 meeting; staff will attempt to collect and present information about feedback mechanisms and evaluation metrics for the SRO role.
