On June 6, 2018, the City of Miami Beach and the School Board of Miami-Dade County entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the placement of Miami Beach police officers at Miami-Dade County Public Schools located within the City of Miami Beach for a term commencing on June 1, 2018 and expiring three (3) years thereafter on May 31, 2021. Through the MOU, the City and School Board joined together to address any foreseeable emergency situations that might transpire or arise within the public schools located in the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Miami Beach. In December 2018, an addendum to the MOU was executed to add additional terms and conditions to the MOU including a School Board contribution for the 2018-19 school year of $140,352.00, definition of school day, and placement of City police officers at four (4) public schools in Miami Beach: Biscayne Beach Elementary, Miami Beach Fienberg Fisher K-8, North Beach Elementary, and Miami Beach South Pointe Elementary.
Both the City and School Board acknowledge the real possibility of dangerous incidents and life-threatening occurrences upon School Board property, which will require immediate and dedicated law enforcement action in order to prevent and quell any of these perilous and unpredictable situations. As such, the City has devoted six (6) police officers and one (1) sergeant during the school year beginning in the 2018-19 school year during school days in order to provide the School Board with essential support to ensure the safety and security of students, faculty and staff, and to protect the sanctity of the public schools in the City of Miami Beach. The cost for the six officers and one sergeant was approximately $1,251,000 in 2018-19 and $1,379,000 in 2019-20.
The City and School Board support this partnership, and agree that entering into another Memorandum of Understanding beginning in the 2021-22 school year will provide a visible deterrent to thwart criminal activity and yield an environment that is safe and conducive to learning for all students, faculty, staff and residents of the City.