CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council on Thursday evening approved an agreement with the Konocti Unified School District to reestablish a school resource officer at the district.
Police Chief Tim Hobbs noted in his written report to the council that there hadn’t been a school resource officer, or SRO, assigned to the district since October 2020.
Lt. Martin Snyder, who was on hand to give the report on behalf of Hobbs, explained that the Clearlake Police Department’s staffing level now allows for assigning one officer as a full-time SRO.
Under the memorandum of understanding the council approved with Konocti Unified, the district will pay $142,956.32 to fund the cost of a full-time SRO, which includes salary, benefits, overtime, training and vehicle usage costs. The city also can recover additional overtime costs for other officers used at school events, according to Hobbs’ written report.
Konocti Unified’s superintendent, Dr. Becky Salato, told the council that, on behalf of the school district, she was grateful for the council’s consideration.
She said it has been a tough three years since the district last had an SRO in October 2020.
At the same time, she said they truly appreciate the police department. In the interim, even without an SRO, Salato said the police department responds immediately to the district.
She added that the SRO is a “super important” position for the school district.
Councilman Russ Cremer moved to approve the agreement, which was seconded by Councilwoman Joyce Overton and approved by the council 3-0. Council members David Claffey and Russell Perdock were absent.
In other business, the council awarded a $46,715 contract for traffic signal updates at the intersection of Olympic Drive and Old Highway 53 to DC Electric. The funds come from the Coronavirus Response and Relief supplemental appropriations through Caltrans.
The council also awarded a contract for guardrail installation to Midstate Barrier for $46,500.
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Clearlake City Council approves school resource officer contract
- Elizabeth Larson
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