HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-29; City Council; 01; Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Unified School District for the School Resource Officer Program for the 2025-26 School YearCA Review JRT
Meeting Date: July 29, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Staff Contact: Jeffery Smith, Police Captain
jeffery.smith@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2218
Amanda Simpson, Management Analyst
amanda.simpson@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-5054
Subject: Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Carlsbad and the
Carlsbad Unified School District for the School Resource Officer Program
for the 2025-26 School Year
Districts: All
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution approving a memorandum of understanding between the City of Carlsbad
and Carlsbad Unified School District for the School Resource Officer Program for the 2025-26
school year.
Executive Summary
The City of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Unified School District maintain a strong, ongoing
partnership focused on providing a safe and secure environment for all students and staff
across district campuses. For the 2025–2026 school year, the Carlsbad Police Department will
assign three dedicated school resource officers to serve the district. Over a ten-month period,
one officer will be assigned to Carlsbad High School, another to Sage Creek High School, and the
third will cover the district’s three middle schools and nine elementary schools.
The district will pay for half of the costs of these assignments, totaling $250,999, which will
reimburse the city’s General Fund.
The City Council is being asked to approve the memorandum of understanding with the district,
which will be effective for the 2025–26 public school year.
Explanation & Analysis
The Police Department has provided at least one school resource officer each school year to the
Carlsbad Unified School District for over two decades.
•In 2018, the City Council approved a second dedicated school resource officer for Sage
Creek High School at the request of the school district.
•In 2019, a third school resource officer was approved to rotate between the district’s
three middle schools and nine elementary schools.
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 1 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
The Police Department currently has five school resource officers. Two of those officers are
considered roving officers who provide services to Carlsbad schools in the Encinitas, San
Marcos, and San Dieguito Unified School Districts. These districts were offered dedicated school
resource officers, but have declined. The City of Carlsbad fully funds the two roving school
resource officers.
The school resource officers are trained to build positive relationships with students and
improve connections between youth in the community and law enforcement.
Duties of a school resource officer include:
• Responding to law enforcement-related matters during school hours while the officer is
on or near the officer’s assigned school campuses
• Documenting and investigating school-related crimes
• Attending sporting events, school activities and parent conferences/meetings
• Conducting criminal investigations as assigned by the supervisor of the Family Services
Unit and assisting other officers in ongoing criminal investigations that bring other
officers onto the school campus
• Working with school staff on shared concerns
• Serving as a liaison for the School Attendance Review Board and being the point of
contact for Child Protective Services visits, truancy sweeps, home visitations, district-
wide critical response plan training, school safety plans, and training of campus
supervisors and noon duty personnel
If on-campus activities are reduced due to unforeseen circumstances, such as public health
emergencies, the Carlsbad Unified School District may request a reduction or suspension of
school resource officer services. In such cases, the total costs will be adjusted accordingly.
The proposed resolution authorizes the City Manager to execute amendments to the
memorandum of understanding, which may be necessary to ensure compliance with state or
local public health orders, or other federal, state, or local laws.
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 2 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
Fiscal Analysis
The annual cost for a mid-range officer (Step 3) is $200,799, which includes salaries and
benefits, but does not include equipment and maintenance. The Carlsbad Unified School
District’s cost-sharing payment of $250,999 will be used to reimburse the General Fund and
reduce the program’s impact on the city’s budget. The breakdown of costs and cost-sharing is
below:
*Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar and are based on rounded salary, including education pay, holiday pay and
uniform allowance.
Next Steps
With City Council approval, the City Manager will sign the memorandum of understanding
between the Carlsbad Unified School District and City of Carlsbad. Under this agreement, the
Police Department will assign three dedicated school resource officers to serve the Carlsbad
Unified School District. The district will be invoiced $250,999 for the 2025-26 school year.
Environmental Evaluation
The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by CEQA Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines
Section 15378(a) and does not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section
15060(c)(2) because the action is limited to the execution of a memorandum of understanding
to provide school resource officers. The action has no potential to cause either a direct
physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in
the environment.
Exhibits
1. City Council resolution
School resource officer cost allocation
Cost Carlsbad
High
Sage Creek
High
Middle
schools Total
Annual personnel costs $200,799 $200,799 $200,799 $602,398
Monthly personnel costs $16,733 $16,733 $16,733 $50,200
School year cost (10
months) $167,333 $167,333 $167,333 $501,998
Half-share cost to
district $83,666 $83,666 $83,666 $250,999
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 3 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
Exhibit 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-180 .
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD AND THE CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT FOR THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM FOR THE 2025-
26 SCHOOL YEAR
WHEREAS, the Police Department and the Carlsbad Unified School District maintain a strong,
ongoing partnership focused on providing a safe and secure environment for all students and staff
across district campuses; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department has provided the Carlsbad Unified School District with a
school resource officer every school year for over two decades; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, desires to authorize the City
Manager to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Carlsbad Unified School District for
the School Resource Officer Program for the 2025-26 school year; and
WHEREAS, for the 2025-26 school year, one school resource officer will be assigned to Carlsbad
High School, one school resource officer will be assigned to Sage Creek High School, and one school
resource officer will be the roving officer assigned to the three middle schools and nine elementary
schools within the district during the ten months when students are on campus; and
WHEREAS, Carlsbad Unified School District agrees to pay for one-half the costs of three full-
time police officers during the months they are assigned to the schools, totaling $250,999.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.That the above recitations are true and correct.
2.That the City Council has determined the proposed action is not a “project” as defined
by California Environmental Quality Act Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section
15378(a) and does not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section
15060(c)(2) because the action is limited to the execution of a memorandum of
understanding to provide school resource officers. The action has no potential to cause
either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect
physical change in the environment.
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 4 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
3.That the City Manager, or designee, is authorized to execute the Memorandum of
Understanding between the City of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Unified School District for
the School Resource Officer Program for the 2025-26 school year, attached hereto as
Attachment A.
4.That the City Manager, or designee, is authorized to execute amendments to the
Memorandum of Understanding for the School Resource Officer Program as needed to
ensure continued compliance with state or local public health orders, or other federal,
state, or local laws.
5.That the Carlsbad Unified School District’s cost-sharing payment of $250,999 will be
used to reimburse the city’s General Fund.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Carlsbad on the 29th day of July, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 5 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
THE CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF CARLSBAD
The City of Carlsbad’s Police Department (“City”) and the Carlsbad Unified School District
(“District”) desire to provide a safe and secure, teaching and learning environment for all
students and staff within the City of Carlsbad by protecting life and property.
Ensuring the safety of students and staff on school campuses in Carlsbad is a priority to the school
administration and the police department. Campus security will be enhanced by the presence of
police officers who will interact with the students in both a positive and proactive manner. Police
officers on campus, or School Resource Officers (“SROs”), will help improve relations between
the police department and the youth of the community. Therefore, the District and the City have
the following expectations and agree to undertake the listed responsibilities to achieve these
mutual objectives:
A.DISTRICT’S ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY
1.To ensure student welfare portal-to-portal;
2.To develop procedures to handle campus safety issues;
3.To establish and follow procedures for referring police involvement; and
4.To cooperate with and support in a proactive manner the City of Carlsbad Police
Department to ensure the success of programs involving students, school personnel,
parents and the community.
B.CITY’S ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY
1.Provide enforcement/prevention/intervention by:
a.Providing a uniformed police officer presence at Carlsbad High School, Sage Creek
High School, the middle and elementary schools, Carlsbad Village Academy, and
district offices located in the City of Carlsbad;
b.Responding to all law enforcement related matters as they occur during regular
school hours while the officer is on or near the above facilities and able to do so;
c.Documenting all incidents of crime that occur at the above facilities as per
department regulations, performing the necessary follow-up investigations as
needed to identify perpetrators of crime, and performing any follow-up on cases
as deemed necessary;
Docusign Envelope ID: 1A6B3826-D44F-420F-8C32-BE458B3AC6A2
Attachment A
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 6 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
Memorandum of Understanding
2025-2026 School Year
Page 2
d.Attending various sporting events and school activities, as needed for proactive
enforcement and interaction;
e.Attending parent conferences/meetings, as needed.
2.Conduct criminal investigations as assigned by the supervisor of the Family Services Unit
and assist other law enforcement officers who are engaged in ongoing criminal
investigations that bring them onto the school campus.
3.Work with school staff in matters of mutual concern, such as alcohol and drug use on
campus; safety of students and staff on and off campus; gang-related violence and crime;
campus intrusion; and loss and/or damage to property.
4.Provide liaison in the following areas: School Attendance Review Board; point of contact
for CPS visits; truancy sweeps; home visitations; district-wide critical response plan
training; school safety plans; and training of school campus supervisors and noon duty
personnel.
5.Make every effort to use established best practices for de-escalation outlined in the
Countywide Crisis Management Philosophy document (Policy 301) when interacting with
any student in crisis. Additionally, SROs will be familiar with, and, when feasible, assist
with the CUSD Site Emergency Procedures for Special Needs Students as appropriate.
6.When dealing with a student in crisis, specifically those students with special needs or
other considerations, SROs should, if reasonable under the circumstances, work
collaboratively with school staff to resolve the situation, while attempting to respect
individual education plan expectations as advised by school personnel.
C.TERM OF AGREEMENT
This Memorandum of Understanding will remain in effect for the 2025-2026 public school
fiscal year. Either party will have the right to cancel this Memorandum of Understanding
upon 90 days advance written notice during the term of this agreement.
Docusign Envelope ID: 1A6B3826-D44F-420F-8C32-BE458B3AC6A2
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 7 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
Memorandum of Understanding
2025-2026 School Year
Page 3
D. RELEASING STUDENT INFORMATION
The Parties shall fully comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and
all other applicable state and federal laws regarding confidentiality of student information.
Information obtained by school staff may be shared with a law enforcement officer/agency
or SRO if the information is not derived from school records. Information from school records
may be shared under any one of the following circumstances:
1. “Directory Information” unless the parent/guardian has asked specifically that such
information be kept confidential.
2. With consent of the parent/guardian
3. When the educational agency or institution determines that there is an articulable and
significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals and disclosure
is necessary to protect the health or safety of a student or other individuals. (34 C.F.R. §
99.36)
E. SPAN OF CONTROL/JURISDICTION
1. One full-time police officer will be assigned to provide the School Resource Program at
Carlsbad High School, Carlsbad Village Academy, and district offices located in the City of
Carlsbad.
2. One full-time police officer will be assigned to provide the School Resource Program at
Sage Creek High School and district offices located in the City of Carlsbad.
3. One full-time police officer will be assigned to provide the School Resource Program at
Valley Middle School, Calavera Hills Middle School, Aviara Oaks Middle School, and the
nine CUSD elementary schools.
4. Enforcement/prevention/education/training/proactive activities will take place at these
facilities and at public meeting places within the community as they relate to the activities
at these facilities.
5. In accordance with public health guidance, the City of Carlsbad Police Department will
ensure its officers abide by all public health ordinances and requirements, including
directives from the state regarding COVID protocols for K-12 settings.
6. The officer will remain under the direction and control of the City. Requests for work
assignments from these facilities will be given to the Family Services sergeant of the
Docusign Envelope ID: 1A6B3826-D44F-420F-8C32-BE458B3AC6A2
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 8 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
Memorandum of Understanding
2025-2026 School Year
Page 4
Carlsbad Police Department, who will thereafter assess the request and direct the school
resource officer to respond appropriately.
F.RESOURCE COORDINATION
Resource and local management will be coordinated at:
1.Carlsbad Unified School District, 6225 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, California, 92009,
(760) 331-5000.
2.City of Carlsbad Police Department, 2560 Orion Way, Carlsbad, California, 92010,
(760) 931-2100.
G.COST
Cost sharing will be based upon the fully benefited salary of one-half of one full-time police
officer for ten months of the school year for Carlsbad High School, one-half of one full-time
police officer for ten months of the school year for Sage Creek High School, and one half of
one full time police officer for ten months of the school year for Valley Middle School,
Calavera Hills Middle School, and Aviara Oaks Middle School. The portion funded by the
District will be prorated based upon the school year at a rate of one-half of the total salary of
three full-time sworn police officers for a total cost of $250,999. See Exhibit A for details.
H.EMERGENCY CAMPUS CLOSURES
If either Carlsbad High School, Sage Creek High School, Valley Middle School, Calavera Hills
Middle School, or Aviara Oaks Middle School have restricted on campus activities due to any
federal, state or local emergency (e.g., COVID-19), the District may request that no SROs be
provided while on-campus student learning is reduced or suspended. If the District requests
that no SROs be provided while on campus, student learning is reduced or suspended due to
a federal, state, or local emergency, the total cost to be funded by the District will be prorated
to deduct for any months for which no SROs are requested.
I.EFFECTIVE DATE
This Memorandum of Understanding will be effective August 19, 2025, and the District will
pay annually to the Finance Director of the City the agreed amount as outlined above. If the
agreement is canceled as herein permitted, the City shall return to the district the portion of
such payment allocable to the period of the term subsequent to the effective date of
cancellation.
Docusign Envelope ID: 1A6B3826-D44F-420F-8C32-BE458B3AC6A2
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 9 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
Memorandum of Understanding
2025-2026 School Year
Page 5
J.COVID-19: CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER
The Certification of Compliance: California Vaccine Verification for School Resources Officers
in Schools is attached as Exhibit B and incorporated as if fully set forth herein.
K.SICK/INJURY/EMERGENCY ABSENCES
The City will provide general law enforcement services to Carlsbad High School, the middle
and elementary schools, Carlsbad Village Academy, and the district offices via the patrol
division whenever the regularly assigned SRO is temporarily unable to provide said services
due to illness, injury or emergency leave, or when called away to perform other duties that
preclude the officer’s presence at the school. In the event of such occurrence, calls for service
will be handled based on need in relation to other demands for police services.
L.CITY EMPLOYEES
City employees who perform duties under this agreement are not, for any purposes
whatsoever, employees of the School District.
M.NO RIGHTS IN THIRD PARTIES
This Memorandum of Understanding is not intended to benefit any third parties, create rights
in favor of any third parties, or create a special relationship between any City employee and
any other person.
N.LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Pursuant to Section 895.4 of the Government Code, the City and the District agree that each
will assume the full liability imposed upon it for any of its officers, agents, or employees for
injury caused by a negligent or wrongful act or omission occurring in the performance of this
agreement, and each party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other party for any
loss, cost, or expense that may be imposed upon such other party by the virtue of Sections
895.2 and 895.6 of the Government Code.
Docusign Envelope ID: 1A6B3826-D44F-420F-8C32-BE458B3AC6A2
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 10 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
Memorandum of Understanding
2025-2026 School Year
Page 6
O.AUTHORITY
The individuals executing this MOU and the instruments referenced in it on behalf of the
District and City each represent and warrant that they have the legal power, right and actual
authority to bind the District to the terms and conditions of this MOU.
Carlsbad Unified School District City of Carlsbad
By: By:
Title:
Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Date: Date:
Attest:
City Clerk
Approved as to form
Cindie McMahon
City Attorney
By:
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
Director of Purchasing
7/11/25
Docusign Envelope ID: 1A6B3826-D44F-420F-8C32-BE458B3AC6A2
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 11 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995
July 30, 2025
Memorandum of Understanding
2025-2026 School Year
Page 7
EXHIBIT A
Carlsbad Police Department
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM
Cost-Sharing Breakdown
Costs are for one mid-step police officer (Step C) for one year and include only personnel costs;
equipment and maintenance costs are not included.
ANNUAL POLICE OFFICER PERSONNEL EXPENSES RATE COST PER OFFICER
Salary Mid-Range 120,3041
Education Pay Flat Rate 6,632
Overtime 7.500% 9,0230
Holiday Pay 132 hrs 7,635
Life Insurance 0.05% 60
AD&D 0.025% 30
Health Insurance Flat Rate 24,672
LTD 0.445% 535
STD 0.459% 552
Medicare 1.450% 1832
Unemployment 0.500% 632
Retirement (CalPERS) 20.490% 27,693
Uniform Allowance Flat Rate 1,200
TOTAL PERSONNEL COSTS 200,799
SRO COST ALLOCATION
CARLSBAD HIGH SAGE CREEK
HIGH
MIDDLE
SCHOOLS TOTAL
Annual Personnel Costs 200,799 200,799 200,799 602,398
Monthly Personnel Cost 16,733 16,733 16,733 50,200
School Year Cost 167,333 167,333 167,333 501,998
HALF SHARE COST TO SCHOOL 83,666 83,666 83,666 250,999
*amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar and are based on rounded salary including
education pay, uniform allowance, and holiday pay
Docusign Envelope ID: 1A6B3826-D44F-420F-8C32-BE458B3AC6A2
July 29, 2025 Item #1 Page 12 of 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 4182F611-2211-4B09-88DA-EB136D3E0995