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SROs: certification timing, parent contacts and planned flyers explained
Summary
Officials clarified that NASRO certification is ideally completed in summer before the school year, parent contacts cover disciplinary and medical notifications, and informational flyers will be handed out to SROs and posted in schools ahead of the fall term.
Committee members asked operational questions about how SROs handle parent contacts, the timing of NASRO certification and how educational flyers will be distributed.
Sergeant Leon Al Hurst explained that parent contacts encompass a range of interactions — disciplinary notifications, medical incident calls or cases where a student reports something that requires parental notification — and that confidentiality (FERPA) guides what information is shared. "Parent contacts is a variety of everything, either disciplinary issues, assistant with school staff, and getting a hold of the parents," he said.
On certification timing, Hurst said the department tries to send officers to NASRO training in the summer months so they are certified before school starts, though occasionally officers must be trained mid-year if vacancies arise. He emphasized that the department views NASRO as ongoing training, not a one-time event.
Regarding communication materials, an agency official and Sergeant Hurst said flyers will be distributed at partner trainings and posted in schools. "So for our training that we come up that we're having with all, partners and everybody, we're gonna hand out the flyers," Hurst said. He added that SROs will carry the flyers and post them around school buildings as appropriate.
Hurst also reiterated use-of-force limits stated in program guidance: "SROs must, use detention, arrest, and physical restraints only as an absolute, last resort to protect physical safety," underscoring restraint and confidentiality policies.
