APOPKA, Fla. — Orange County Public Schools officials announced they have reached a tentative agreement with four cities and a town they were negotiating with for school resource officer coverage.

What You Need To Know

  • Tentative agreements were made with leaders in Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Winter Park, and Windermere for school resource officer coverage

  • At least one SRO will be in each public school 

  • Orange County Public Schools leaders believe the two-year contracts will keep students, teachers and faculty safe

  • The agreements go into effect through the 2026-27 school year

Superintendent Maria Vazquez said negotiations were made with leaders in Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Winter Park and Windermere.

The tentative agreements will staff every public school with at least one school resource officer, and would go into effect through the 2026-27 school year.

“They mentor students, they are able to be part of that school culture, and so for us, we’re just very grateful that we were able to come to this agreement,” said Vazquez.

The two-year contract would provide one SRO at elementary and middle schools and two officers at high schools.

Vazquez says the agreements do not cover the entire cost for the officers, but both the district’s and the cities’ finances were taken into consideration.

“We were able to come to an agreement now that still does not pay the full costs but acknowledges the constraints that we both are facing,” said Vazquez.

Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson said he wants parents to know there is no price tag when it comes to keeping their kids safe.

“We just want to take that little apprehension away from them and make sure they’re comfortable that they’ve got our SROs in our schools taking care of their children,” he said.

The district previously explored a guardian model, which would save them money, but the staff would not be sworn law enforcement. Vazquez said the district was always leaning toward keeping SROs in each school.

“Guardians are not certified law enforcement officers in the state of Florida," said Apopka Police Chief Mike McKinley. "They do not go through the academy and the rigorous training law enforcement officers go through.” 

McKinley told Spectrum News that his department never planned on removing school resource officers from the city's schools, but they wanted fair compensation.

“It does cost us a lot of money and I think all the cities are struggling with budgets in these times, as well as the school board, and we have to take that into consideration,” said McKinley. “I think this agreement took all of that into consideration and is fair for everybody in this particular point in time.”

Spectrum News also received a statement from Winter Park City Manager Randy Knight:

“Safety of the children and faculty in the schools has always been a top priority for both sides of these negotiations. We are pleased to have reached terms agreeable to all entities involved that will keep this long-term partnership of providing School Resource Officers in place through the end of the 2026/27 school year. We look forward to discussing the details with the City Commission at their next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 23.”

Vazquez said she expects the contracts to be signed within the next couple weeks.