TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve and Authorize the Agreement Between the Imagine School at North Port, Inc., and the City of North Port, Florida, for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at the Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida, 34288 in the Total Amount of $200,000.00.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve and authorize the Agreement between the Imagine School at North Port, Inc., and the City of North Port, Florida, for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at the Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Blvd., North Port, Florida, 34288 in the total amount of $200,000.00.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve and authorize the Agreement between the Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida, for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at the Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida, 34288 in the total amount of $200,000.00.
• Pros: The Agreement between the Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida, for the SRO Program at the Imagine School Campus will enhance campus safety by providing two (2) dedicated SROs and will ensure continued compliance with the requirements of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The presence of an SRO supports proactive law enforcement engagement; threat prevention; and positive relationships between law enforcement and students.
• Cons: It will require assigning two (2) full-time sworn Police Officers and supervisory resources, which may impact the North Port Police Department’s overall staffing flexibility and ability to respond to other operational needs.
Option 2: Deny the authorization of the Agreement between the Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida, for the SRO Program at the Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida, 34288 in the total amount of $200,000.00.
• Pros: Denial of the Agreement between the Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida, for the SRO Program at the Imagine School Campus will preserve the North Port Police Department’s staffing resources and maintain flexibility in deploying personnel to address broader community policing priorities and operational demands.
• Cons: It would reduce on-campus law enforcement presence, negatively affecting school safety, community relations, and compliance expectations tied to school safety legislation.
Background Information
Imagine School at North Port, Inc. is a tuition-free public Charter School that is currently enrolling students for the 2026-2027 school year. Imagine School at North Port, Inc. has requested the services of an SRO from the North Port Police Department for the upcoming academic year. The North Port Police Department currently provides these services and would continue to do so under the proposed Agreement.
This Agreement provides for the assignment of two (2) regularly employed North Port Police Officers to serve as SROs. The total fee to Imagine School at North Port is $200,000.00, payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments over the Agreement term beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. In the event that selection and placement of the SRO’s at Imagine School of North Port is not made by July 1, 2026, the total fee of $200,000.00 will be made in equal monthly payments beginning the first day of the following month that placement is made with the final payment being made on June 1, 2027. The Agreement may be terminated by either party with thirty (30) days written notice.
The Agreement between the Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida, for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at the Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida, 34288 in the total amount of $200,000.00 has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
The Agreement between the Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida, for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at the Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida, 34288 in the total amount of $200,000.00 was provided to the City Clerk’s Office on June 23, 2026, for signature, subject to City Commission Approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
The amount of $200,000.00 will be paid to the City of North Port, Florida, from the Imagine School in equal monthly installments beginning July 1, 2026, or the first day of the following month that placement of the SRO’s are made.
Revenue account string 001-0000-342.10-01
Procurement
The Agreement between the Imagine School at North Port, Inc., and the City of North Port, Florida, for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at the Imagine School Campus Contract is consistent with Chapter 2, Administration, Article VIII, Procurement, Section 2-403(a)(2) Procurement Contracts between the City and nonprofit organizations, other governments or other public entities of the Code of the City of North Port, Florida.
Attachments:
1. Agreement
Prepared by: Jamie Ebershoff, Executive Assistant
Department Director: Todd R. Garrison, Chief of Police