001Sorry. As soon as we have a FBI sayed Detroit will not change us for us. I would like to call the meeting to order and acknowledge that the T motor school district sits on the ancestral land of the Swson Island and the people. I thank these caretakers for the land who have lived on and continue to live on the land since time. Please rise as Sheriff Sanders will lead us in the flag. Thank you. >> Superintendent Bogan, have there been any changes or additions to the agenda since it was published? >> No changes or additions. And this was the agenda published yesterday. >> All those in favor of approving the agenda as presented say I. Those opposed. >> The agenda is approved as presented. >> Thank you. We will now move on to public comment.
002Before we begin, I would like to remind members of the public that if you wish to address the board during the public comment portion of the meeting, you would have needed to fill out the the public comments form available on the district website by 9:00 a.m. today. If you miss this opportunity, you are welcome to sign up for the next regular board meeting or email your comments to the board andor superintendent. Contact information is on the district. >> Thank you. Did you receive any comments for for public comment? people. >> Good evening. There we go. >> My name is Derek Sanders. I'm the sheriff of 13 County. I appreciate just a quick moment to to cut with you guys on school resource officers. Um I just got a letter in the mail from the board
003um obviously some of the staffing challenges with come police department and of course thirsty county was uh we know all about staffing challenges and how we've overcome those but I wanted to just briefly speak with you guys about the SRO program uh I actually met with superintendent Kevin uh Bob last year uh as the board was kind of looking at maybe a contract with the sheriff's office and uh my position has not changed on that matter so um where I stand with the school resource office situation is that I believe cops should be in Tom Water schools. But above all else, I believe that a cops should be in Tom schools so that we are building that relationship and providing that local relief for the students um for the teachers, for the staff, and also
004for the community. Um the Twater School District is a big district high school is my home. Um and I would like to see that that partnership continue with the Twater Police Department. With that being said, I've also discussed with the Twater Police Department about us being a back stop for whatever needs they have. um we are partners in this. So, however we can assist, we of course want to be of assistance to both come water police department and school board when it comes to school resource officers. So, we are open to of course following the lead of come water police department and assisting them with whatever needs they have and how we can do that as well. Um so, I think that was just kind of the piece that I wanted to get out of
005the way and then of course I'll be hanging out if you guys have any specific questions for me. service likely won't actually for the city administrator for the city of Beyond that city, >> not because it is on the I think it's really timing. window cleaning and >> we've been working really closely with administrative staffing myself. We received from the school district around a breach of contract and so they've been moving that through the approval process because we got the proposal from the school I think what's most important though is we are strongly We're also put Columbia want to say thanks to the office. Any more comments? >> I'd like to make a request uh for extending public comment if there's any additional speakers. I don't know if that's a request or a motion. I'd
006like to make a motion. I'll second so we can have discussion. Thank you. So let's go ahead and why you would like to reason. >> Um I just know that changing the schedule slightly over 24 hours in advance of the meeting shorten the window for opportunities to sign up. direct my only input would be if it's because of the real short notice and that's the reason I can understand that but I wouldn't be for this practice. >> Is there any people that sign up? >> Yes. My only concern is that not everyone that would be my only concern to you know so that's my only concern someone might be watching this Yeah, probably my view would have been better before we announced that he needed to sign up in order to speak today. Um, I
007would prefer for this to be raised when there does I do want to short >> I don't mind feel a little different to me and sitting there watch I I think we would like for anybody who has a comment to be able to provide those viewed as such a risk. emotion work in favor. modifying those say I >> those opposed we will now move on to action items discussing security and the SRO contract would you please be able to provide a summary of the temporary options short-term options. Some of the discussions mentioned here earlier today around what the district is doing to fill the gap. >> I didn't bring a copy of the letter. I'm so sure you won't mention a letter that came from the board. It came from from me based on our
008conversation with the board at the last meeting. I'm just asking us to explore options and look out. So, one thing we've done is similar to both the city and to the sheriff's office. One so asking even for things and I don't I didn't bring the letter right with me, but it was um you have part-time staff. Um can you work with us on something? It kind of laid out a few different options of just requests from the sheriff's office, right? Do you have any staff available? We also requested we will provide office space for both the city and the sheriff's office for any office or sheriff members to come um park their car out front of our school to use our facilities um and we'll have office space if they have paperwork to do and
009that has been suggested off and on um I've heard throughout the years. So just kind of reiterating that like we will find that place for you and they're welcome coming and we'll um provide space for them and retreats. I'll put that on. I'll make sure. Um the other thing we've done is um some initial brainstorming with our administrative team around what might be needed and how what would be best supports um as well as looking at kind of the cost for that. And so there's been some outreach around private security um our own um expanding our own security folks that we have within our buildings. And so what did that look like? What were those time periods? Can we afford that? from Can we at this time? >> Ben, you recall anything else? >> Can
010I ask Ben to share because he's also been helping with this? >> Yeah, absolutely. Ben, don't you step up to the mic? Thank you. Sorry, put on the spot. of dangerous There's some savings there. Um, how Okay. So, I sort of focused on what we can do in the short term. >> What could we do? One of the things other situation. There were a variety of other any of those options. Are there any questions around >> a question right off the bat? But um you do a nice job. Um you guys the last meeting has been very popular and it's more we appreciate that part. >> I think >> I don't I'm not sure about the title of what we're doing of contract. What what my concern is is just a community expense that's how
011it is. Um I understand things are out of our control I don't really care the reason why that happened or who is this. It's relevant. Um I've been contacting a lot of people in the community saying what is what is what is going to do? Well, we can't we could create police officers and realistically we have two options. Um I mean we have one more than two options but we have police department that can't help us right now. Um additional um you know the sheriff's department can or can't I don't know that's up to them but I do think we have to do something. Um so I'm glad we're have options we're discussing and talking about and I hope we can figure something We have a plan for the community. So when they're asking us
012those questions about what we're doing, we're moving forward with some kind of short term and if there's something longterm that we need to look into some concern how short they are the time frame of the next full year to have something in place. I do worry about an extended short. I hope that doesn't happen. Um I don't really care who the SRO police their fantastic job. That's great. That's not really just program is amazing for community outreach. So that's my concern is I just want some kind of a solution here. I don't have no comments as to the not working on what we've been working on when the first order we need to understand. So that was where the MLA came from. what is the million cycle and what are they paying for what we're
013paying. So that that is coming and we continue to bring some options and the superintendent with different ideas. A couple questions for >> this is an agenda. I understand >> anyone will be fired for this. administrative. >> We ask people we ask people who are not present that Ben is not listed as a presenter. I don't I don't know why those rules that people has said about what you have all this investigation I move that we allow people in the audience to answer questions on this action item. discussion. >> I would just like to say that um this was put on the agenda um you know kind of kind of thing the public comment period came up as also something that was on very short notice for our community. Um and it seems that this
014is was important enough to us that we would put this on the agenda um for this meeting, not the next meeting that we would have a public comment period. Seems like it was important enough for that and I think as a board member I think it's very important for members of the board to be able to get the answers from the people who have the answers when they have questions. So I would urge uh we support this motion to allow uh board members to ask questions of folks with the expertise that we need in order to be able to consider this issue. >> I'll reply to this uh public comments process. Two people figured it out just fine. One of them figure that out. I've not been aware of the audience may or may not
015be obligated to do as I do it could be very helpful and relevant to Absolutely. My concern is sitting in this position with a president. It could leave it open to anybody that may or may not >> considering I don't even know what action we're taking. I think it would be fair to ask people who are um knowledgeable about this question that I think >> so it would have been more appropriate than you to do this at a work session. >> Let's explore this. We didn't hear what your question was. So we're we're debating and discussing a question that may or may not hope for we don't even know what your question is ask what kind of socks he's wearing today we probably don't but it's a valuable question then then I think it is
016helpful and again we are breaking the standard >> I don't think it's a valuable enough question to make it something that we do every every meeting so I'm okay with answering it calling me and I'm okay with that too >> I believe sit down. He doesn't know how long, but he did say he was >> He did say he would be hanging around after >> that's good enough for me. >> What you say? We're not talking about starting a precedent here. We're we're talking about allowing it for this specific meeting. >> I moved to allow people to answer questions on this action item. All those in favor of allowing members of the audience to answer questions on this particular action item. Yeah. Sheriff Sanders microphone please. you mentioned um when we were talking about first
017of all I didn't see the letter that came through so I'm not sure what it said but the tone was you didn't want to step on toes because the schools are in the city and in the city uh my question is what what about the option of having a tub water SRO and a Christian county SRO I mean there's a good portion of our district that's in the county. Right. So, how's your relationship? Like I I don't want to get in the middle of anything that happens between departments or anything like that. >> Yeah. I I I feel similar. Um like I said, you know, water school district has historically been served by police department. Um I I think most of us believe that the staffing issues and policing are considerable. So there are going
018to be times where you know staffing levels dip and hard decisions have to be made and the sheriff's office was there three years ago. So I I definitely empathize with that. Um there's there's nothing wrong with having a thirst in the T water. I mean there's a part a possibility to partner there and we can strengthen our our partnership better. Uh I I would just want to have that conversation with water police department first. I think that's the lack of this is to simply move to thirst county and say come take this when I have deep respect for our water police officers police chief water city council and I'm not I don't want to get caught in the middle of a perspective on that like what I'm most interested in here is making sure that
019there are wellified responsible police officers are defining the water school district how do we that's what I'm interested in so whatever needs to occur for that to kind of bring people together and find a positive way forward That's that's >> that was my question because I'm not interested in hospital but I'm interested to know that if >> if that would be something that Tumblr would want to do and the county would want to do I mean I would love if that's what they wanted and if Tom wants both SRO's I I support that feel I love water >> but but if it would be b if it would be beneficial to come water to have the other SR provided by the county then I want that to be an option too. So I would want
020to have that conversation I guess with with both of you. >> Yes. And we will follow. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um question. So >> I'm curious where this hostile takeover like I'm not aware of anybody saying that we want to keep some water out and hire the sheriff's department. I'm not aware of that at all. I think we have an awesome SRO officer right now that's for the water police. I don't want the kids to have another SRO taken away. I have zero interest in taking an away from schools. Um, so I don't know what what this is saying, what's going on, like there's some kind of a hostile takeover, but um I I would hope that you and police or whoever can have conversations and if you plug and play someone in for
021a while, it works and helps everybody out. And I said, let's move forward with that. It sounds great. If it's time that someone is ready to put their second officer back in that role, then do that. I mean, I don't understand this is such a big deal. >> Yes, sir. I I don't disagree. And maybe host take over. We don't I don't want to make it look like I'm going behind. I'm presuming often times there's funding involved in this. So I don't want it to make it look like we're going behind the city of back school district, you know, they can't have that second and I think my biggest >> think I did have a question. Um, the Tom Water School District has approached the sheriff's department before about a conversation while it was in
022negotiation with the Tom Water School District around the SR program. We received outreach from the school board while they were in negotiations. >> What was that time frame? When was >> that? You mentioned the historical service and then we expanded that because it's a great program. She'll told this to her many police. It really is. And so we I said, "Yeah, we think it makes sense to our school." But historically, the SR program did states. Um then ultimately too our agreement with the city not agreement is conversations it's relationships communication with the city and city council was to expand number three that was supposed to happen in plans but those look to happen this year. So we are looking looking to expand. We are looking to shrink down the one or go backwards. We understand
023change is inevitable and this is adapting to change. So we would um we would really like ultimately we're not contract people. We know very little about policing staff police departments. Um but we do police safety. We are ultimately responsible for all of our program by 50% regardless of the circumstances. We have complete understanding that impacts other people as I think it's probably wrong. >> Thank you for coming. >> I do have more to talk about not necessarily. So, I'm going to get those out of the way. >> Thank you, sir. >> I'd like to get this back on track a little bit here. So, I'll help out. I want to talk about a little bit around the temporary solution. in the district. Um I I really again appreciate the effort and have been working on
024options. Now quite honestly it's picking the best of the worst options. Um visibility police officers paperwork in parking lots that's great that is that that increases visibility for sure but not anywhere near close meeting with I I appreciate that. But I also have concerns about it. There's going to be some coordination probably building administration as well to to the students. We have law enforcement officer on site. Now, our contract and state law is very clear, our policy is very clear that they must train several conditions. And so, while I know they're not visibility. It's not engaging man. >> While I appreciate building, it is not a substitute. >> This is on the agenda as an I'll clarify that this is item tied to this agenda item wanted to allow that as a possibility for this
025conversation realizing it may not happen but we did want to reason say we may take action and it does and it does trigger a comment which we did want. So does that explain that clear? >> It does. Maybe I'm just um >> uh trying to understand you know sort of how and I'll just state my own discomfort with how this was put on the agenda um as a re the actual topic. >> Well, yeah, very confused about what the topic at the moment is and what we're what what we're doing. So, I guess >> Kevin was give us the options that they do and then also allows us to ask questions and have discussions around those options. Expanded to take questions from people audience probably say we need to be visible. >> This board wasn't
026about any of this. We are >> behind the eightball since notified. We need to be in communication and be transparent with the community. And I'd encourage anyone to ask questions at all. If you're confused about an agenda item, what we're doing, what should be expected, please contact me before. >> Can I ask you guys a question? What what do you need from us right now to uh put put one of these options in motion? Do you need us to make a motion right now >> to tell you what to do? >> Well, I thought at our last meeting you you kind of directed certainly provided some directions towards me and our staff to look at options kind of assuming and find out the savings that we would experience from that. we've done that and then
027we explore options and and I'm certainly clear that the board wanted some type of action again we're kind of taking those steps >> if we're talking about you know an outreach to the the sheriff's office we did an outreach around some options them taking on like full duties of what would that those conversations haven't occurred so I guess >> this conversation sort of opens up the door and we now hearing some of those context so I necessarily need that. I think again now we're talking about just getting at the table and having conversations about what's possible and what might put two organizations together because I think we're hearing that clearly that they want to work in cooperation and so we're open to do that and finding a solution that may work for everybody. some um
028I guess in terms of my perspective on this topic. >> I just my I want to commend the police department for prioritizing placing officers where they need the most. Um, I think our communities, our schools will be safer when Tom Water Police Department is able to deploy their their officers and their resources to protect the city um and protect our community in the way that they they know they need to do. So, want to commend our police department for um for their uh their work and um I certainly heard from Sheriff Sanders that um these kinds of staffing challenges in law enforcement They happen. All law enforcement agencies go through periods like this and need to make hard and tough decisions. So, just want to thank you. Want to thank the city administrator for coming
029tonight and for uh your perspective. Um I know that there's been many conversations between uh our administration and um and you and the mayor and water police department about this issue. Um, so I really want to thank you for being here. Um, the SRO model, we we are talking about police presence in our schools and I just want to clarify that the SRO model is a very specific model and it's based upon a a kind of a threeprong uh program. One is that you know and I just want to clarify that that SRO's are not security officers or security >> presence. They are law enforcement. Um they are commissioned police officers. They are also educators in our schools and educating our students on public facing. Um and they are also counselors and mentors in our
030schools and they undergo a very specific training in order to be able to provide all three of those functions. Um I don't feel that um your police department present while doing paperwork meets that need. Um I don't believe that any kind of um contracted security service meets that need. I think that only a commissioned law enforcement officer properly trained and engaging in this work meets that need. And so that just as you're engaging these conversations going forward, um I trust our administration to be engaged with um the the city um and the sheriff's department and the police department um on these issues and to bring uh some recommendations back to them. I guess I want to just clarify. I guess I I never really expected that we would be replacing Israel, right? That that never
031really crossed my mind as we engaged in this conversation, nor and I don't know this for a fact, but I don't believe either organizations can immediately give us that. Um and I don't know maybe that's true or not true standards that we like because I know that obviously the police department can't offer that. So I guess when I heard from our last meeting was really around concerns around either perceived safety, safety security. It wasn't really about relationship between police officers and kids because I don't think I can find that in the short term. What I can provide and what I think we can do in the short term is around safety and security. What that looks like, I don't really know. We're gonna definitely I think any of the options I list miss miss that
032piece and it is and it's an essential component of the SRO program and I agree with you. So I'm I'm not sure what in terms of the guidance that you would like maybe as a board or meeting with our team because that is really important is is this can the sheriff's office provide a trained person in the near future like and if that's the conversation we have jointly with the the two entities and that's the option we're looking at versus a safety security and continue to explore some of those options. I recognize that paperwork and any of those were certainly not sufficient to to do to to fill the gap of the loss and I'm not sure there is anything other than us having a second row. So I guess I need a little guidance
033to probably put your group around what you want to do next relationship building or >> pursuing some options. I'm right with Lily said a little and I'm gonna read from policy 4301 security program an SRO means a commission law in the state of Washington sworn authority deployed in community oriented poling and signed by employing police department or sheriff's office to work in schools to build positive relationships with students and access crime disorder problems, gangs, and road activities that are occurring in or around school. School resource officers should focus on keeping the students out of the criminal justice system if possible. We should not be using the templates that are more important. So that makes it very clear as we can. This is already policy. >> I do have a question too. I'd like to call
034somebody. >> So, Governor Ferguson last year set aside $100 million to hire more tal. It's not good. And we've set aside $100 million for the Prioritize hiring. >> How much money does the city? >> I have to get back to you and answer that question. I've been in this role for about eight weeks and so I am not familiar with the govern Governor Ferguson's here, but uh I'm not familiar with the program that the governor put forward with. I'm happy to look into that and research it and get back to you. Happy to do that. might be another member >> or should we just have you get back to us? >> Yeah, I think we're more focused. >> Well, I want to make sure they understand. My understanding is that $100 million is for all
035law enforcement agencies to access hire more law enforcement. I don't know if they're using a search company for you, if they're funding officers, if they're using the prop bonuses. I don't know what it's for. I do know and then set aside specifically law enforcement. >> We will have a full and thorough briefing at our April 14th. Paul, you are doing great, but I love it. Thank you. >> Um, and I hate to humor because clearly all that going on, but and please correct me if I'm wrong, we'll shut this down right away. I was told or was alerted to that the city had realized that there was a staffing shortage issue early back as 2024 that may impact the school resource officer and we're just feeling that in reality but this has been do you
036have any again I know but do you have any awaren that's very different perspective from what's been shared with me. What's been shared with me is that the staffing shortages started happening >> and uh acting chief started January 2nd. I started January 16th. He notified me in my first week that we had some serious issues because in December an officer retired, two officers retired. We also had another officer out on unexpected medical and so with the previous previously established established medical% but I don't close um that as the chief notified me the first thing that I did was reach out to the superintendent and say we need to talk I just need to give you an update that we think that we may have we're discussing every possible concept in order to address this and
037uh as soon as we confirm that yes directly with the plan to start from an administrative perspective how we can implement this implement this in the way that impacts If I may, while I have the mic, I just want to say that's our program. It's hard to think what they're really missing tonight because like the superintendent, I work to the city council and they are wholeheartedly committed to this program. And so having discussions about solutions and directions and different actions we want to take without having isn't going to lead to our best possible outcome. And so that's that's a big reason why we've been asking a lot to have a joint meeting and we hope that on April 14th we can really guide them because I we do think we have some solutions that we
038can implement internally including finding ways to use overtime to get our previouss uh to provide some level of coverage which does have the training. We think there's That's just one example of a few, but it's going to take us working together at the elected level, at the staff level. Some of those solutions may very well involve the sheriff's office, but those solutions aren't dealing with those solutions. partners have discussions. Thank you. >> I do want to talk about being the highest priority. We accept that. I think we think one of the issues we have is that if there was a staffing issue that was identified as early as 2024 and that during bargaining contract that was never That's okay. But nonetheless, >> well, I will say the offic was the start of the issue starting
039to happen, but we are also officers. I think we go like I said we're not >> but I do I do have some concern though and it is the highest priority. I acknowledge that. But the communication on this in my opinion is was not I shouldn't have to hear that we no longer have from someone who says hey last communication with the board very straightforward. We want quite frankly, we care where they come from. At the same time, >> um can I can I respond to that? >> Absolutely. Sure. >> I I just want to share, you know, that's that's why we reached out to the super early on. I'll be honest, when it comes to our police officers uh communication, we're trying to balance uh officer and community safety with transparency and that's not
040a that's not always a clear line. And so we have been learning as we go. As well, we communicated staff to staff. Uh once we received feedback that that those messages weren't fully received, I believe our mayor provided some direct communication to all of the school board members to really clarify what how we got to this space and what our approach is to resolve the space. So I think the bear has been transparent about communication and then again I uh today just about five o'clock today pretty um tracking of all the different included also media coverage. Thank you. I was just going to comment about your email that you sent us today. Paul, I really appreciate that. It's the first communication I received directly from the city. >> There was a letter from the mayor
041to all members of >> it was sent through the superintendent. personally. >> I did reply all. >> I just replied. >> I do have a question. Why did we uh why did we remove officer who has several years? >> September. That was a decision that our police made with police departments to answer that question because >> that decision was made officer was wanted him to figure out. >> I just want to thank you both for your comments um and for coming here to based questions and your answers. I just feel that it's important to um just honor the uh tower police department and your uh your ability and your purview to make decisions about how you are going to deploy your resources and your officers and just what you should do. I just want to
042honor that that's your purview um and your decision that you'd like to make. >> So Paul or maybe officer driver here. So we have a procedure 431 within six months of the entire completed 13 days along the job. Maybe questions for officer drivers. >> I just want to thank both of you. Uh, as she said, uh, um, and Paul, I know that this agenda item, um, took you from whatever you had planned today. Um, work on that email and gather all that information for us. So, I want to thank you for dropping everything and and giving us that information because you had other things on your calendar to do and I just just appreciate I look forward to seeing you again on >> account. Um, just a final comment from me. Um, I'm 100% supportive
043of SRO's in the schools. I have no problem with Tom Waters need to move staff >> to answer 911 calls that need they come in. And I understand that they made that decision so that was best for all of the community. I have no problem with any of those decisions. We're just trying to figure out how we're going to get our second SRO in the school and we want to work with whoever we need to work with to make that happen. And I want to start with Twater because I mean I'm in I mean full disclosure I'm a chap at the police department. I spent a lot of time with these guys and gals and support everything they do. And so, um, if there was any message that was contrary to that, I wanted to
044make sure I cleared that up because I'm I don't want security guards. I don't want what Julie said earlier. I hardly agree with >> what you said and how you said it. So, thanks. Thank you. Any questions for >> otherriving I don't want to complain people but I'm certainly not suggesting that we pull cops off of their normal duties to be an SRO because staff is staff deal with it and do what's best for the department. So, uh, kind of to echo the exact same thing that, um, director Rob said, was just we're just trying to figure out the best for us and getting section. If that means working for you guys and having to wait it out until you're ready, that's fine. If that means that sheriff can put stuff back in there and
045partner with the city on it, that's great. Um, outside of that, there's not really other options, so we're just have to wait it out. But I would just encourage um our superintendent to keep you know working with you guys on some kind of solution and go from there. >> Any other questions? Any other comments or discussion? agent field office. >> I will pause momentarily for action potential action. Is there any motion correction? >> I'm sorry. With no further business coming before the board, the regular board meeting is adjourned at 7:01