Dubuque Schools approve contract for School Resource Officers

Dubuque Community School District board members this week approved a $376,940 professional services contract with the city of Dubuque for school resource officers for this school year. The district is utilizing six SROs this year, including the unit’s supervisor. That includes a full-time SRO assigned to Hempstead High School, another to Dubuque Senior High School and a third to the district’s Alta Vista Campus, in compliance with a new state law that requires a SRO at each high school in larger districts. The remaining three SROs each are assigned to one of the district’s middle schools and provide assistance at the elementary schools as needed. To fund the program, the district pays the city 50% of the salary for five of the SROs and the district pays the city 75% of 50% of the supervisor officer’s salary. According to board documents, the district aims to add two more SROs. The seventh SRO may be added during this school year, depending on Police Department staffing, but the eighth SRO will not be added until “at least” fiscal year 2027.