Kyrene School District will consider approving a $333,905 contract with the city of Chandler for two school resource officers to provide law enforcement education and security services at Kyrene Del Pueblo and Kyrene Aprende middle schools.
These positions are grant-funded by the Arizona Department of Education’s School Safety Program, per the agreement. The total contract cost represents the actual salary and benefits for both officers for the 2023-24 school year.
“The SROs are not district employees and are employees of the city and are under the operational control of the Chandler Police Department according to Chandler Police general orders,” the agreement stated.
Throughout the 2023 to 2026 school years, Chandler Police will provide two SROs for the district’s use.
In future years, Kyrene will continue to use funding from the School Safety Program to continue these positions, however if there is insufficient grant funding, the district and the city will split the costs evenly for the SROs’ salaries.
Kyrene’s governing board will vote to approve the contract at its Oct. 24 meeting.
Earlier this school year, the board approved contracts for four SROs with the cities of Phoenix and Tempe, with the former providing three and the latter providing one for use at Kyrene Akimel A-al, Kyrene Altadena, Kyrene Centennial and Kyrene middle schools.
SROs serve as mentors, educators, liaisons and law enforcement officers at their respective schools, according to the agreement.
“The SRO is first and foremost a law enforcement officer,” it stated.
But through the SRO program, the officers go beyond typical law enforcement duties by building relationships with students, setting an example for handling stress or resolving conflicts and also educating students on how to be responsible community members.
Officers share their expertise in the classroom along with evidence-based curriculum that’s specific to their school. The agreement stated that all law-related curriculum is consistent with the Arizona Department of Education’s standards.
Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
Community: She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French.
Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here