SRO Task Force

The Northshore School District is committed to fostering school climates that are safe, caring, and mutually respectful so that all students, families, and staff feel included, valued, and supported. 

Northshore has a long history of partnering with our local police departments to enhance school safety. Over the years, funding shifts and student needs have resulted in an evolution of support. There are now multiple models in our high schools. Some models are staffed by District employees and others by District employees along with our local police departments (School Resource Officer Program). This mixed model approach doesn’t provide the consistency or predictably in student experience that our families expect and deserve. 

To this end, in 2020-21 the District  created a School Resource Officer  (SRO) Task Force to provide guidance to District leadership about school safety programs.

Guiding Principle

The District is committed to fostering school communities that create, nurture, and sustain the physical, emotional, and academic safety for each of our students and staff.

 

The Northshore School District SRO Task Force focused on the following:

  • Reviewed the current School Resource Officer (SRO) program, including its goals

  • Recommended defined purpose, goals, expectations, and regular evaluation of this program that are responsive to RCW 28A.320.124 as well as the lived experiences and needs of Northshore School District’s students, families, and staff

  • Incorporated community voice and input into suggested SRO program revisions and job description

  • Recommended ways to improve the transparency of the SRO program and to communicate the work of the SROs to the greater learning community.

 

Membership

The District appointed a diverse task force that included parents/guardians, community members, students, and district staff from varied backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences who:

  • Brought knowledge, experience, and relationships that reflect the diversity of the Northshore community.
  • Had a strong interest in campus and student safety and well-being.
  • Were committed to being highly collaborative and respectful within a diverse group of committee members.
  • Were willing to attend all meetings to learn and provide input.

 

Final Recommendations of the SRO Task Force 

An SRO Task Force survey was sent to all 37 members on Monday, May 16th with a goal to have everyone respond by Friday, May 20th.  The goal was to have all SRO Task Force members select one of the following recommendations:

  1. Recommendation 1: Adopt the School Liaison Officer (SLO) program for the 2022-23 school year similar to the Tacoma Public School District model adopted in 2021.
  1. Recommendation 2: Continue with our current model with 2 SRO’s at BHS/WHS, and explore the School Liaison Officer (SLO) model at IHS/NCHS for the 2022-23 school year.
  1. Recommendation 3: Based on national research, remove armed police officers from all campuses except in criminal emergencies. Additionally, the SRO Task Force will look into additional safety and security options for campuses which might include School Liaison Officers, increased District Security presence, and/or other options.

Additional notifications were sent to complete the survey on 5/25/22 & 6/1/22 due to a lack of responses.

A Total of 24/37 Members Responded to the Survey

  • 10 District Staff Members
  • 9 Students
  • 3 Parents
  • 2 Community Members

After meeting with the Interim Superintendent, Michael Tolley, the decision was made to move forward with an adapted version of "Recommendation #2":

Continue with our current model with 2 SRO’s at Bothell and Woodinville High School and "explore" options for Inglemoor HS & North Creek HS for the 2022-23 school year.

Please note that this decision was not made entirely from the survey results but it was determined that this would be the best decision for the upcoming school year. 

 

Contact

More information about the SRO Task Force is available by emailing Northshore’s Student Services Department at studentsvcs@nsd.org.