The School Board has been mandated by the state to provide one Police Officer/School Resource Office by facility.

On the April 3rd Regular Council meeting, representative of the Miami-Dade County Public School Board requested the assistance of the town in providing security at both K-8 facilities located within the town boundaries. The Town Council unanimously approved having one officer at each K-8 through the end of the school year. During our first Town budget workshop, the Council ranked school security as the number one priority. By ranking school security as our number one priority, the Town Council is ready to step in again and provide school security.

On February 20, 2018, the School Board requested $10 million from the State for an additional 100 school resource officers (SRO) for schools in need of additional SRO presence. The State allocated the $10 million requested by the School Board. This amount is additional to the $9.5 million that the state already appropriates for safety and security measures to Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

I would like to point out that the safety and security of our children is our most paramount priority. To that end, I would like to discuss with my colleagues the creation of a resolution addressed to the School Board containing the following points:

• Miami Lakes stands ready to assist the School Board with officers to make sure all schools in Miami Lakes are safe and secure
• Request the reimbursement of funds used for the additional police officers that the Town of Miami Lakes provides to the School Board
• Stating that the Town if ready to assist in securing our schools, even if the School Board takes the position of not reimbursing the Town
• Discuss options on recovering the cost of the officers, if the School Board decides not to reimburse the Town

Fiscal Impact: Cost of two police officers for one year is $335,000.00