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Committee approves one‑year contract to place nine SROs in Benton schools
Summary
The finance committee advanced a resolution authorizing the police department to contract with the Benton School District for nine school resource officers for the 2026–27 school year; police said the agreement covers officer pay but not equipment or vehicles, and the school covers a substantial share of officer time.
The committee voted to approve a resolution authorizing the police department to enter a one‑year contract with the Benton School District to place nine school resource officers (SROs) for the 2026–27 school year.
Chief Hodge, identified by staff as the requesting official, told the committee the department currently has nine SROs in public schools and that the proposed contract continues that staffing level.
“Typically it is the same officer in the same school throughout the entire year…we want them to know that officer’s name and be able to come to him and talk to him about that,” Chief Hodge said while describing the SRO program’s role in building relationships with students.
A councilor asked whether the contract amount includes uniforms, equipment and vehicles; the chief said it does not and described the figure in the packet as covering officers’ pay only, with an approximate school‑coverage calculation of about 73% based on school days and off‑duty use for training and summer events.
The committee moved and seconded the resolution and approved it by voice vote. No roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.
The packet shows the proposed contract and related estimates; staff said duties include routine in‑school presence as well as coverage for extracurricular events and proms. The committee did not amend the contract at the meeting and sent the resolution forward as presented.
