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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Deborah A. Lang, Assistant Corporation Counsel
DATE: September 5, 2018
SUBJECT:
The City of Aurora, through the Aurora Police Department, is requesting approval of the agreement between the Aurora Police Department and East Aurora School District 131 concerning the Police School Resource Officer Program and Crossing Guard Program at East Aurora School District 131.
PURPOSE:
This agreement between the Aurora Police Department and East Aurora School District 131 updates a decades old agreement between the City and the school district. Both the City and the school district will benefit from the updated agreement that defines roles for each party with the crossing guard and Police School Resource Officer Program. Additionally, the agreement covers the transition of the crossing guards as City employees to crossing guards becoming school district employees over the course of four years.
BACKGROUND:
The Aurora Police Department requested an updated agreement between all school districts in the City of Aurora for the Police School Resource Officer Program as well as shifting the crossing guard duties from the police department to the school districts.
DISCUSSION:
This agreement updates the previous agreement with East Aurora School District 131 concerning the Police School Resource Officer Program. Additionally, over a course of four years, the crossing guard program will move from a City responsibility to the school district. This will allow officers to focus on patrol issues instead of assisting crossing guards with their duties (i.e. assisting crossing guards when a crossing guard shack door is frozen shut, or dropping off bags of salt for the crossing guards). The agreement also outlines the role the officer has in the school and the role the District has in selection and reviews of the officers in their District.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The agreement will provide better communication regarding the role of the School Resource Officer in the school district which will allow for a safe environment for students enrolled at East Aurora School District 131. Additionally, shifting crossing guards from a City function to a school district function, will save the City money as well as allow the officers to focus on patrolling the streets or assisting in active investigations rather than assisting the crossing guards in their duties.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Aurora Police Department requests the proposed resolution be adopted."
cc: Government Operations Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution for the City of Aurora, through the Aurora Police Department, to enter into an agreement with East Aurora School District 131 concerning Police School Resource Officer Program and Crossing Guard Program at East Aurora School District 131.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Police School Resource Officer Program ("SRO Program") and Crossing Guard program will provide enhanced communication between East Aurora School District 131 and the Aurora Police Department;
WHEREAS, the SRO program will continue to develop respect and trust for law enforcement and responsibility among the youth enrolled in East Aurora School District 131;
WHEREAS, this agreement establishes a time frame of the transition of the crossing guards as City employees to the responsibility of East Aurora School District 131, and
WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 10 of the Illinois Constitution of 1970 authorizes intergovernmental cooperation such as is contemplated by the Agreement, and Illinois statutes provide that public agencies may share powers through intergovernmental agreements (5 ILCS 220/1 et. Seq.); the City is a unit of local government (Ill. Const., Art. VII, Sec. 1) and a public agency (5 ILCS 220/1).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the attached agreement between the Aurora Police Department and East Aurora School District 131 concerning Police School Resource Officer Program and Crossing Guard Program at East Aurora School District 131 is fully adopted as set forth in the attached signed document.