City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 20, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: DON HAYES, CHIEF, ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support Establishment of a Joint City Council/School Board School Law Enforcement Partnership Subcommittee. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a resolution to support establishment of a Joint City Council/School Board School Law Enforcement Partnership (SLEP) Subcommittee.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council approve the resolution authorizing the establishment of a Joint City Council/School Board Subcommittee SLEP Subcommittee.
BACKGROUND: At the February 27, 2023 Joint City Council/School Board work session, the School Law Enforcement Partnership Advisory Group recommendations were reviewed and discussed. As part of the discussion, a recommendation was made to form a Joint City Council/School Board SLEP Subcommittee to continue to build upon the work of the SLEP Advisory Group.
DISCUSSION: The proposed membership of the Joint City Council/School Board SLEP Subcommittee is as follows:
• Two members of the City Council, appointed by the Mayor
• Two members of the School Board, appointed by the School Board Chair
One staff member from both the City and Schools shall be named to support the subcommittee. The purpose of the Subcommittee will be to promote continuous improvement and collaboration on the responsibilities of school resource officers. The Subcommittee will:
1) Review common structures of Student Resource Officers (SROs) programs and best practices for policing in K-12 schools, including the roles and responsibilities of SROs;
2) Review empirical research on student outcomes associated with SRO programs, including program evaluation options that measure quantifiable impacts on school climate and safety;
3) Develop recommendations for 2025 MOU revisions for consideration in a future joint City Council and School Board work session during the 2023 to 2024 school year.
That Subcommittee shall meet on an ad hoc basis beginning in September 2023, with the goal of completing work by December 2023. The Subcommittee will report to a joint work session during the 2023 to 2024 school year.
In meetings earlier this month, the School Board considered this Subcommittee, and the Chair appointed its representatives. Once the City Council adopts the resolution and the Mayor appoints the Council representatives, staff will begin working with the appointees to develop a meeting schedule.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no expected fiscal impact due to the establishment of the Subcommittee except for the staff time required to support it.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution
STAFF:
Yon Lambert, Deputy City Manager
Easton McDonald, Assistant Chief, Alexandria Police Department
Courtney Ballantine, Captain, Alexandria Police Department