Tomball - Magnolia Edition | February 2023

Tomball ISD and the city of Tomball’s agreement to provide school resource ocers, which began in the early 2000s, comes to a halt in March. NEGOTIATING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS

DEC. 9: Tomball sends TISD a 90-day termination notice of the SRO contract, stating the city cannot meet TISD’s demands, which included not funding support sta.

FEB. 20: An in-person meeting between Tomball City Council and TISD trustees to continue discussions about providing services is canceled upon TISD’s refusal to meet.

AUG. 2022

SEPT. 2022

OCT. 2022

NOV. 2022

DEC. 2022

JAN. 2023

FEB. 2023

MARCH 2023

NOV. 16: After the city

SEPT. 9: Tomball amends its agreement with TISD and expedites its previous goal to provide 16 ocers by the end of the 2022-23 school year. Ocers have been added to the SRO program the last several years. O cers Sergeants 2011: 4 SROs

JAN. 10: TISD approves an interlocal agreement with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Oce to add 4 SROs for the ongoing school year.

FEB. 17: TISD writes to the city that it is in the best interest of the district to partner with one agency for SRO services; TISD declines to meet with the city.

FEB. 21: TISD and the city of Tomball publicly announce the termination of the SRO contract. The city will provide SROs through this school year. Harris County approves 4 ocers for TISD from the constable’s oce.

AUG. 1: The city approves a three- year extension of the interlocal agreement with TISD to incrementally increase the number of ocers to 15 in the 2024-25 school year.

presents a plan for a 26-ocer division that includes sta such as dispatchers, TISD replies its goal is to increase SRO visibility and presence at campuses, not to fund support sta.

16 ocers 2023 goal:

2016: 5 SROs

SOURCES: CITY OF TOMBALL, TOMBALL ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Salazar-Zamora said in the Feb. 21 letter. “In fact, with the anticipated addition of the four Harris County Precinct 4 constable SROs, parents, students and

In a Feb. 17 letter to the city, board President Lee McLeod said the district was exploring all viable options for security, as the city’s proposal to pro- vide SRO services within city limits would not suce. Most TISD campuses are located outside of Tomball city limits. “Considering the current needs of security personnel and implementa- tion of security programs in Tomball ISD, it is in the best interest of the district to engage with one agency to oversee safety and security in the dis- trict,” McLeod said. “Without a pro- posal that matches our intention, the board does not believe it is necessary for the two governmental bodies to meet at this time.” In August, Community Impact reported that TISD Chief Operating Ocer Steven Gutierrez said explor- ing the creation of an independent police department was not an option. However, Salazar-Zamora said Feb. 21 that the district may pursue its own police force. TISD’s next steps were unclear as of press time Feb. 23. “As a fast-growth district, we con- tinue to analyze and evaluate our safety needs, including exploring options ranging from expanding the number of SROs with current and additional partners, to the potential establishment of a Tomball ISD police department,” she said in the letter.

according to the release. The National Association of School Resource O- cers recommends one SRO per school, according to its website. TISD has 12 SROs for its 22 campuses. In an eort to increase safety, Tom- ball Police Chief Je Bert presented a plan to the district for a 26-ocer division, which would include sup- port sta such as dispatchers, accord- ing to the city’s Dec. 9 letter. “I do understand the importance of span of control and limiting the number of SROs reporting to a super- visor, but our intent and goal is to increase SRO visibility and presence on our campuses, not necessarily the buildup of a larger command team with dispatchers and administra- tive assistants,” Salazar-Zamora said in the Nov. 16 letter. “Due to limited funding, our desire is for the available funds to be utilized for direct visibility and contact with campuses.” In the city’s reply Dec. 9, Esquivel said the city could not continue to provide SROs with that goal in mind. “The city must enable our ocers to be in a position to perform the requirements of the agreement and provide the best service possible for the students and sta,” Esquivel said in the letter. “This includes providing SROs the support and resources they need to do their job.” What’s next? The two entities were set to meet Feb. 20, according to a meeting agenda; however, the district declined the meeting.

CONTINUED FROM 1

2020: 8 SROs

Dec. 9, which Com- munity Impact obtained, meaning the contract ends March 9. In a Feb. 21 let- ter sent to TISD stakeholders, the district said the existing 12 SROs will remain

2021: 9 SROs

2022: 12 SROs

sta will see an increased law enforcement presence on our cam- puses and throughout the district.” The additional o cers were approved by Harris County commis- sioners Feb. 21, according to TISD. Meeting information shows the agree- ment spans from March 11-Sept. 30, and the district will pay 100% of the cost, totaling $247,677. Negotiating more ocers According to the city’s release, the city claims negotiations stalled in the fall over providing more SROs after the district said it did not want to pay for support sta. “This issue has not been about the costs associated with [support ser- vices] but the equitable responsibil- ities,” City Manager David Esquivel said via email. Support sta, which the city claims it is funding at no cost to the district, include positions such as a command- ing ocer and a dispatcher, according to the release. More ocers were also needed because of enrollment growth,

through the end of the school year. It was not clear what options TISD may be pursuing to maintain a law enforcement presence afterward. According to the city’s release, the city has partnered with TISD to provide SROs since the early 2000s, increasing its number of ocers most recently in September to 16 SROs by the end of the 2022-23 school year. The two shared the salary and benet costs, with TISD paying 75% for 15 ocers and 100% of one ocer. The termination of the contract comes after the district approved an agreement with the Harris County Pre- cinct 4 Constable’s Oce on Jan. 10 to add four SROs. In a Nov. 16 letter from Superintendent Martha Sala- zar-Zamora to the city obtained by Community Impact , Salazar-Zamora said she hoped the potential agree- ment would supplement the number of ocers in the district to reach 20. “Despite the city’s termination of our three-year contract, rest assured there will be no lapse in law enforce- ment presence, or SROs, in the district,”

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM