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Board Updates School Resource Officer Agreement to Comply with State Law

January 26, 2026/Newspaper Staff/

Litchfield CUSD #12 Meeting | January 20, 2026

Article Summary: The Litchfield School Board approved an updated Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Litchfield regarding the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. The changes align the agreement with new state laws and PRESS Plus policies regarding law enforcement interactions on school grounds.

SRO Agreement Key Points:

  • Legal Compliance: The updated agreement reflects changes in state code prohibiting SROs from issuing tickets or making arrests on school grounds.

  • Interim Update: This agreement covers the remainder of the current school year.

  • Future Negotiations: The district and city will begin meetings immediately to draft a new agreement for the next fiscal year.

LITCHFIELD – The Litchfield Community Unit School District No. 12 Board of Education on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, approved an updated agreement with the City of Litchfield defining the role of the School Resource Officer (SRO).

Superintendent Dr. Kelly McClain stated that the update was necessary to ensure the district remains compliant with recent changes to Illinois state code and legal requirements.

“Those updates are primarily due to… legal requirements that changed, especially as it prohibits School Resource Officers issuing tickets or citations or arresting students on school grounds,” Dr. McClain told the board.

The district worked with city officials and attorneys to align the language of the Memorandum of Understanding with these new prohibitions. Dr. McClain noted that this specific agreement is effective for the remainder of the current school year.

Administration is scheduled to meet with city officials on Wednesday to begin drafting a comprehensive SRO agreement for the upcoming fiscal year.

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