Title
Report to council on the status of the Memorandum of Understanding for school year 2025-2026; and a resolution requesting approval of the update to the Memorandum of Understanding for school year 2026-2027 between the City of South San Francisco and the South San Francisco Unified School District. (Fahmida Murphy, Police Lieutenant)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council receive a report on the status of the Memorandum of Understanding for school year 2025-2026; and approve the associated resolution to continue the agreement for the 2026-2027 school year between the City of South San Francisco and the South San Francisco Unified School District.
Body
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Per action of the City Council and Board of Trustees in 2023, the South San Francisco Police Department (SSFPD) and South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD) adopted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which commenced for the 2023-24 school year. This MOU consists of guidelines to inform the relationship between the SSFUSD and the School Liaison Officer (SLO) program of the SSFPD which expires on June 30, 2026.
The terms of the MOU require an annual review and presentation to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, and whether the parameters of the MOU are being followed. Furthermore, the MOU shall be reconsidered for renewal by both the City of South San Francisco and the SSFUSD for each successive fiscal year.
Following the review of the annual report, the SSFUSD Board of Trustees approved the renewal of Version 16 of the MOU between SSFPD and SSFUSD on June 26, 2025, in addition to corresponding proposed draft updates within Sections X(c) and XIII(a). These updates included a new expiration date of June 30, 2026, and the removal of prior language which refers to the initial year when parties moved the renewal cycle to June/July to correspond with the conclusion of each school year (rather than March of each year).
Per the SSFUSD, there are no other changes aside from adjusting the school year (2026-2027) in the title and the expiration date (June 30, 2027) in section XIII, Renewal and Termination.
FISCAL IMPACT
The annual fiscal impact associated with providing School Liaison Officer services to the South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD) is approximately $250,000 for one School Liaison Officer position. This estimate includes personnel costs, equipment necessary to perform the duties of the position, and specialized training related to working collaboratively with school sites, students, and educational staff.
The Police Department currently maintains two School Liaison Officer positions. If both positions are fully staffed, the total annual fiscal impact is estimated at approximately $500,000.
In addition to staffing-related costs, the Police Department incurs approximately $5,000 annually for program-related supplies and materials, including educational equipment, food for student engagement activities, police department promotional items, and other resources utilized in school-based programs and outreach efforts.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES ACTION PLAN
The MOU between the City of South San Francisco and SSFUSD supports the Major Focus Area of Welcoming and Connected Community to continue to partner with the South San Francisco School District as related to youths and families.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council accept the report on the status of the Memorandum of Understanding for school year 2025-2026 and approve the associated resolution to continue the agreement for the 2026-2027 school year between the City of South San Francisco and the South San Francisco Unified School District.