SMCISD does not have its own district police force and enters into annual contracts with the city to use San Marcos police officers.
The council sent an amended contract to the SMCISD board of trustees earlier this year and on Nov. 15 struck an amendment made by the council that would require the school resource officers, or SROs, to always have a third party present when interacting with students, including potentially criminal matters. The board also added a provision to another amendment that requires surveys to collect feedback from caregivers and added students and staff.
“I originally articulated concerns that pursuit to Family Code 53.008 we could not just put [out] criminal records with non-law enforcement officers present,” said Stan Standridge, chief of police for San Marcos. “The school board of trustees agreed and so they suggested redacting that, but agreed with the spirit of the council's recommendation that anytime otherwise that we're counseling students, that we should have persons present,” he said.
The agreement allows for five SROs at San Marcos High School and district middle school campuses.
