WINTER PARK, Fla. – The city of Winter Park is set to vote Wednesday on whether to move forward with a new agreement to keep police officers on public school campuses, ending a monthslong standoff with Orange County Public Schools.
The tentative three-year deal would provide School Resource Officers at all public schools in Winter Park through the 2026-27 school year. It’s part of a broader agreement involving five cities — Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Windermere and Winter Park — that had pushed back on the district’s proposed funding levels.
[WATCH VIDEO BELOW FOR PARENTS’ THOUGHTS ON SRO PLAN]
Under the agreement, OCPS will reimburse cities $73,000 per officer for the 2025-26 school year and $75,000 for 2026-27. City leaders had argued the payments were not enough to cover the full cost of staffing officers, which includes salaries, benefits, training, and equipment.
“I look at funding for this as essential,” Winter Park resident Alan Chambers said. “It doesn’t matter if you cut it from somewhere else—we’ve got to take care of our kids.”
The district said its offer represented a 20% increase from its previous contract, but officials maintained they didn’t have the budget to pay more. Without an agreement, OCPS warned it might have to turn to armed school guardians — civilian personnel trained in basic security protocols but more limited in what they’re allowed to do in emergency situations.
“It’s really important for our kids to be safe,” Chambers added. “That is the biggest priority of everyone.”
The debate grew especially heated in December when several police departments accused OCPS of using a recent school shooting in Wisconsin to influence public sentiment. A district-wide email sent shortly after that tragedy stated SROs were the “safest option” but emphasized that OCPS had no additional funds to offer.
Parent Katie Rogers said the decision should ultimately center on what educators need to keep their schools secure.
“Well, in an ideal world, we wouldn’t need SROs,” Rogers said. “I think it depends on what the teachers are feeling like—what they need in their schools to keep their students safe.”
The agreement includes a clause allowing for increased reimbursement if the state expands its Safe Schools Allocation funding. So far, however, no such increases are included in current legislative budget drafts.
If approved, the Winter Park vote would secure police coverage for next school year and potentially shape campus safety measures across the district for years to come.
OCPS leaders have said the SRO program remains a top priority.
“We are grateful to the municipalities for their dedication to our shared goal of fostering a secure educational environment,” Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez said in a statement last week.
Winter Park commissioners are expected to vote on the deal later Wednesday.
