TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the First Amendment to the Agreement Between Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida, 34288, to Provide for One (1) Additional SRO in the Total Amount of $232,000.00.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the Agreement between Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida, 34288, to provide for one (1) additional SRO in the total amount of $232,000.00.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the Agreement between Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida, for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida 34288, to provide for one (1) additional SRO in the total amount of $232,000.00.
• Pros: This amendment will enhance campus safety by providing one (1) additional dedicated School Resource Officer 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: Although the position is fully funded by Imagine School, the North Port Police Department assumes all reasonability and liability of the additional Officer.
Option 2: Deny the authorization of the First Amendment to the Agreement between Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida, for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida, 34288, to provide for one (1) additional SRO in the total amount of $232,000.00.
• Pros: Denial of the amendment 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 continue to cause a Special Detail assignment every school day both morning and afternoon at Imagine School for traffic control in front of the school.
Background Information
Imagine School at North Port, Inc. is a tuition-free public Charter School that has requested the services of one (1) additional School Resource Officer (SRO) from the North Port Police Department. The North Port Police Department currently provides two (2) SROs to the Imagine School at North Port, Inc. Approval of this Amendment would increase the total number of SROs assigned to the Imagine School at North Port, Inc. from two (2) to three (3), with the North Port Police Department continuing to provide these services under the amended Agreement.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Amendment, the Imagine School at North Port, Inc. will pay the City an annual fee of $100,000.00 for each SRO assigned to the School, for a total annual fee of $300,000.00 for three (3) SROs. The Amendment also provides for a one-time start-up cost of $132,000.00 associated with the implementation of the third SRO, including costs related to the acquisition and outfitting of a vehicle and the purchase of related equipment for the Officer. For the 2026-2027 school year, the fees associated with the two (2) SROs already assigned to the School will be adjusted to account for payments previously made by the School, while the fee for the third SRO will begin in the month the SRO is placed at the School and will be prorated monthly through June 30, 2027.
The First Amendment to the Agreement between Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida, 34288, to provide for one (1) additional SRO in the total amount of $232,000.00 has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
The First Amendment to the Agreement between Imagine School at North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program at Imagine School Campus, 1998 East Price Boulevard, North Port, Florida, 34288, to provide for one (1) additional SRO in the total amount of $232,000.00 was submitted to the City Clerk’s Office on September 22, 2026, for signature, subject to City Commission approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
The First Amendment increases the existing Contract value by $232,000.00 from $200,000.00 to an amended total of $432,000.00. Of the $232,000.00 amendment value, $100,000.00 supports the cost of one SRO for the school year, and $132,000.00 as a one-time start-up cost with onboarding a new SRO position, including the acquisition and outfitting of a vehicle and related equipment.
Budget Proposal 3598 adopted through the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Ordinance No. 2026-27 supports the financial impact of this amendment: including 1.0 additional full-time employee (FTE), the expenditure budget, account number 001-2103-521, and revenue budget, account number 001-0000-342.10-01). The Fiscal Year 2026-2027 fees will be prorated in accordance with the First Amendment for the third SRO beginning the month of placement.
Procurement
The First Amendment 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, Sec. 2-403. - Exemptions., (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. First Amendment
2. Original Agreement
Prepared by: Jamie Ebershoff, Executive Assistant
Chelsey Rodgers, Senior Business Manager
Christopher Morales, Deputy Chief of Police
Department Director: Todd R. Garrison, Chief of Police