The program lets police tell a school when a child has been through something, so the school can help. David Rogers asked why the definition of trauma was so broad, then cast the only vote against it.

On March 11, 2025 the Council approved a memorandum of understanding between Pflugerville ISD and the Pflugerville Police Department for the Notification of Exposure to Trauma program, known as Handle with Care. Under it, an officer who encounters a child at a traumatic scene notifies the school so staff can support that child the next day. David Rogers asked about the breadth of the definition of trauma. Assistant Chief Smith answered that the school district wanted it inclusive so that a child who was either a victim or a witness could receive help. David Rogers was the only member to vote against it. It passed 5-1; Councilmember Metayer was not in attendance.

Meeting
2025-03-11
Agenda item
4H (2025-0234)
Program
Notification of Exposure to Trauma — “Handle with Care”
Parties
Pflugerville ISD and Pflugerville Police Department
Rogers' vote
No — only member against
Outcome
Passed 5-1
Moved by
Mayor Pro Tem Holiday

What the program does

Handle with Care is a notification arrangement between a police department and a school district. When an officer encounters a child at the scene of a traumatic event, the department passes the child's name to the school so that staff know to expect a difficult day and can respond to it. The agreement before the Council on March 11, 2025 authorised the City Manager to execute that memorandum of understanding with Pflugerville ISD.

What he asked, and what he was told

The minutes record two questions from Rogers. David Rogers asked about a blank in the agreement, and Assistant Chief Smith explained that the passage had been redacted because it is a link used by law enforcement. David Rogers then asked about the broad definition of trauma. Assistant Chief Smith stated that the school district wanted the definition to be more inclusive, so that whether a child was a victim or a witness, they could receive help. Councilmember Ryan said she had spoken to someone about the program and was glad to see the partnership. Mayor Pro Tem Holiday called it an important program so children can receive help, and moved to approve. Rogers voted no.

What cuts the other way

The minutes do not record a reason for his vote, so any account of why he voted as he did is inference. A member can vote against an agreement over its drafting — the redacted passage, the breadth of a definition, the absence of limits on how a child's name is used — without opposing what the program is for, and questions about scope are a normal part of reviewing an interlocal agreement. The vote was on the memorandum as written, not on the idea of helping children.

What this does not assert

  • does not allege the vote was unlawful or improper
  • does not allege any personal benefit to the councilmember
  • does not allege the agreement was deficient

Sources