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Policy CEC - School Resource Officer Contracts

Policy CEC - School Resource Officer Contracts (PDF)

Issue Date: December 18, 2019

Updated: November 20, 2024

A “school resource officer” or “SRO” is a law enforcement officer who contracts with the District to provide law enforcement services for the District or whose law enforcement agency contracts with the District to provide law enforcement services for the District.

Utah Code § 53G-8-701(7) (2024)

Board Approval

Before using a school resource officer to satisfy school safety personnel requirements. the District shall contract with a local law enforcement agency to provide school resource officer services.

Utah Code § 53G-8-703(1) (2024)

Before entering into a contract for SRO services, the Board shall present the proposed contract at a public meeting and receive public comment on the proposed contract and on the specific provisions of this policy. As the Board determines is appropriate following receipt of public comment, the Board will modify the proposed contract and this policy before entering into the contract.

Required Contract Provisions

To be approved by the Board of Education, a contract for school resource officer services must include:

  1. an acknowledgment that an SRO hired under the contract shall:
    1. provide for and maintain a safe, healthy, and productive learning environment in a school;
    2. act as a positive role model to students;
    3. work to create a cooperative, proactive, and problem-solving partnership between law enforcement and the District;
    4. emphasize the use of restorative approaches to address negative behavior; and
    5. at the request of the District, teach a vocational law enforcement class;
  2. a description of the shared understanding of the District and the law enforcement agency or individual regarding the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement and the District to:
    1. maintain safe schools;
    2. improve school climate; and
    3. support educational opportunities for students;
  3. a designation of student offenses that, in accordance with Utah Code § 53G-8-211, the SRO;
    1. may refer to juvenile court;
    2. shall confer with the District to resolve; and
    3. shall refer to a school administrator for resolution as an administrative issue with the understanding that the SRO will be informed of the outcome of the administrative issue;
  4. a detailed description of the rights of a student under state and federal law with regard to:
    1. searches;
    2. questioning;
    3. arrests; and
    4. information privacy;
  5. a detailed description of:
    1. job assignment and duties including:
      1. the school to which the SRO will be assigned;
      2. the hours the SRO is expected to be present at the school;
      3. the point of contact at the school;
      4. specific responsibilities for providing and receiving information; and
      5. types of records to be kept, and by whom;
    2. training requirements; and
    3. other expectations of the SRO and school administration in relation to law enforcement at the District;
  6. that an SRO who is hired under the contract and the principal at the school where an SRO will be working, or the principal's designee, will jointly complete the SRO training described in Utah Code 53G-8-702;
  7. both parties agree to jointly discuss SRO applicants; and
  8. That the law enforcement agency will, at least annually, seek out and accept feedback from the District about an SRO's performance.
  9. to the extent permitted by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 34 CFR Part 99 (“FERPA”), a designation of the SRO or the law enforcement designee as a “school official” under FERPA.

Utah Code § 53G-8-703(2) (2024)

In addition to these required provisions, the contract may include such other provisions as are deemed appropriate, so long as those do not conflict with the required provisions.