The Broward School District has paused a controversial proposal to replace school resource officers from local city police departments with its own police force, following an outcry from elected leaders.<\/p>\n
Kevin Nosowicz, police chief for Broward schools, sent letters earlier this month to police chiefs in Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach and Margate informing them the district didn\u2019t intend to renew<\/a> longstanding contracts to use their police officers in some or all of the schools in their cities. The contracts are set to expire in August.<\/p>\n But on Wednesday, Nosowicz sent\u00a0letters to the cities rescinding those notices. His letter says the district will continue to negotiate with cities for school law enforcement services for the 2026-27 school year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe appreciate the negotiation team\u2019s willingness to return to the discussion table and value the strong partnership and shared commitment to the safety and security of our students, staff and school communities,\u201d Nosowicz wrote to Margate City Manager Cale Curtis.<\/p>\n Similar letters were sent to the other three cities as well, district officials said.<\/p>\n Some elected officials said the initial letters to rescind came abruptly without warning, and they had already budgeted for the police officers for the new year. The school district pays cities about $119,000 for each officer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe letters did not meet my expectations of how we communicate,\u201d Superintendent Howard Hepburn told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Thursday.<\/p>\n Hepburn told the Sun Sentinel the district may still use its own police officers in some schools, but it will happen only after a thorough discussion with affected cities.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard the concerns from our municipality leaders,\u201d Hepburn told the Sun Sentinel. \u201cI\u2019ve even gone to the city manager association and League of Cities meeting in person to actually express that\u2019s not how we operate as a district, when we have such large initiatives to support safety and security.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to come from a face-to-face conversation. It\u2019s going to be a detailed explanation in the meeting to discuss our challenges and come up with common solutions as partners.\u201d<\/p>\n Several city leaders in Fort Lauderdale said they were open to the change, but elected officials from the other cities voiced strong opposition.<\/p>\n Margate Commissioner Arlene Schwartz had blasted the district\u2019s initial move, which she learned about through a letter to the police chief that arrived the afternoon on Friday, April 10.<\/p>\n \u201cNo explanation. No prior warning. No discussion,\u201d Schwartz told School Board member Allen Zeman at an April 16 meeting of the North Area Advisory Committee, a parent group that makes recommendations to the School Board. \u201cTo be clear, not one person from the School Board has ever called the city manager or any of us to discuss a unilateral decision.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe only thing the city of Margate got was a sign in front of Margate Middle listing all the things that were never going to get done.\u201d Commissioner Arlene Schwartz blasts @browardschools<\/a> during a Thursday night meeting of the North Area Advisory.https:\/\/t.co\/bRMFvOTW0B<\/a><\/p>\n