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Court tables Goodrich SRO interlocal while staff, constables and legal counsel weigh costs and legal limits
Summary
After extensive discussion of HB 1458 requirements, TCOLE constraints and cost estimates, Commissioners tabled consideration of a proposed interlocal agreement to provide a full‑time, county‑funded school resource officer at Goodrich ISD and agreed to form a committee to refine options.
Polk County Commissioners tabled further action on a proposed interlocal for school safety in Goodrich ISD after hearing detailed cost estimates, statutory constraints and operational options from constables and counsel.
Constable Kevin Berman (Precinct 3) reviewed House Bill 1458 and explained that state rules require schools to have armed security by one of several methods — an ISD police department, a contract or memorandum of understanding with a local agency, private security, a marshal program, or a guardian program — and noted that TCOLE has placed new ISD police applications on hold until October. He emphasized staffing, equipment and training costs associated with creating a full‑time deputy position and listed recurring expenses (salary, benefits, vehicle outfitting, weapons and software) that can make an SRO program expensive for small districts.
County legal counsel Eric Magee told the court that Chapter 791 interlocal agreements are executed between government bodies and cautioned that a constable’s office is not a separate governmental body for certain agreement forms; he raised liability and insurance issues and advised a full redraft would be needed before approval. The county presented a model that spread the proposed county subsidy for a full‑time deputy across Polk County school districts; the record shows that if the county subsidized Goodrich’s request, a comparable distribution to other districts would total approximately $748,550 under the presented assumptions.
Commissioner Robertson said she would convene stakeholders and form a committee to continue work. The court voted to table the item for further study so county staff, counsel, and the superintendent can refine a legally sound, fiscally equitable approach.
