Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor: nothing will change this school year as city, USD 501 discuss SRO funding
Summary
The mayor said the existing Topeka–USD 501 school resource officer (SRO) contract will remain in place for the upcoming school year while the city and district discuss alternative arrangements; he said the city currently bears a large share of the program’s cost and called for equitable, sustainable models.
The Topeka mayor told reporters that "nothing is changing for the upcoming school year" with regard to school resource officers provided to USD 501, and that the existing contract will remain in effect while the city and the district explore alternatives as part of budget deliberations.
He characterized the current cost‑sharing arrangement as costly for the city, saying the city pays a large share of the current program. In the press conference the mayor stated the city pays "approximately 70%" of SRO costs while USD 501 pays "approximately 24%," and the transcript contains a brief, unclear '6%' fragment that appears garbled. The mayor stressed that any alternative would not end the city's commitment to school safety but could seek to strengthen USD 501’s in‑house department while allowing Topeka Police to redeploy officers where citywide needs are greater.
