Placement: New Business
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Approve a Modification to the Renewal Agreements for the Provision of a School Resource Officer Provision at Somerset Academy St. Lucie and Somerset College Preparatory Academy and the Approval of a New Agreement for the Provision of a School Resource Officer at the Somerset Academy Bethany Campus
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Submitted By: Kate Parmelee, Deputy City Manager for Strategic Initiatives & Innovation
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of safe, clean, and beautiful.
Executive Summary (General Business): Somerset Academy, Inc., on behalf of the Somerset Academy St. Lucie, Somerset College Preparatory Academy and Somerset Academy Bethany seeks to renew its agreements with the City of Port St. Lucie for the provision of a School Resource Officer (SRO) and related services to its two schools and the addition of Somerset Academy Bethany for a term of three years, from 2025 to 2028. Previous renewals for Somerset College Preparatory Academy and Somerset Academy St. Lucie were approved on an annual basis, dating back to the initial agreement for the 2018-19 school year. SROs will be provided by the City of Port St. Lucie Police Department (PSLPD). The agreements provide for a flat annual rate for each school year within the three year term and for the schools to disperse funds received from the State of Florida to partially fund the cost for SRO deployment.
Presentation Information: Staff will be available to respond to City Council questions.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the Renewal Agreements; one for Somerset Academy St. Lucie and one for Somerset College Preparatory Academy and approve a new agreement for Somerset Bethany.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve the Renewal Agreements; one for Somerset Academy St. Lucie and one for Somerset College Preparatory Academy and approve a new agreement for Somerset Bethany.
2. Move that the Council provide staff direction.
Background: In fulfillment of a City Council directive the PSLPD has, for several years, provided SRO services to public high schools sited within the City including Port St. Lucie, Treasure Coast, and Centennial. Through a contractual agreement with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, these PSLPD SROs are partially funded from the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act and the 2019 St. Lucie Public Schools-sponsored referendum for teacher salaries, school safety and educational programs. As the funds provided through the Sheriff do not cover the total cost for the SRO services, the City funds the balance to enable the PSLPD SRO presence in these schools. Similarly, but through a separate contractual arrangement with the City, PSLPD SRO services are provided to Somerset Academy St. Lucie and Somerset College Preparatory Academy. The difference between the two programs is that the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office generally does not provide SRO services to charter schools. The Somerset schools provide the entirety of the funds received from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act to assist in offsetting the City’s investment in providing SRO services to these schools. This year, the City has been asked to include the provision of a School Resource Officer at the Somerset Academy Bethany Campus, a Tuition-Free Charter School Serving Grades K-5 and Tuition-Based Pre-K 3-4.
Issues/Analysis: N/A
Financial Information: The agreement includes the cost for the current school year for the existing two Somerset Academy, Inc. PSL-located schools and the additional proposed school location.
Special Consideration: N/A
Location of Project: N/A
Business Impact Statement: N/A
Attachments: Renewal Agreements for School Resource Officers at the Somerset Academy St. Lucie and Somerset College Preparatory Academy and a New Agreement for a School Resource Officer at Somerset Academy Bethany.
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: 25209-05
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Daniella Margetic, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, City Attorney.