Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) has passed the Reimagine School Safety Act, a $1.4 million proposal that reduced the number of Student Resource Officers (SROs) in the district going into the 2019-2020 school year.
The district has reduced the number of SROs from eight officers to three and has employed a police sergeant to monitor each school’s designated areas and a safety director for each campus.
This plan aims to increase training on implicit bias and mental health support for not only officers but also staff and campus monitors. Through this, SCUSD is attempting to create a more positive campus environment for students.
However, many are skeptical that this training will be effective or thorough enough due to the district’s lack of money.
SCUSD states that it has made this decision not only to save money, but also to accommodate the needs of the students and community activists who feel unsafe and uncomfortable with the officers. But, it is unusual that this plan is only now being revised after nine years of it being in place and right after the news of SCUSD’s financial troubles have surfaced.
The district has had an agreement with the Sacramento Police Department for the past nine years. The Police Dept. provides SROs to ensure safety on campuses by stopping fights, responding to threats, etc.
Many student organizations, such as CKM’s Brown Issues, have been pushing for this action, claiming that the money going towards the officers even with the reduction can be put to better use.
“The money should be going to different fundings like more counselors and social workers here,” said Xavier Muñoz, president of McClatchy’s Brown Issues. “School is a different environment than home, and when kids come to school they should have a safe space.”
Many also say the officers make students of color feel unsafe. Officers have had a history of treating people of color with bias, and having their presence on campus can make students uncomfortable. The school-to-prison pipeline describes how schools can push students, often those of color, from disadvantaged backgrounds into law enforcement through their disciplinary policies.
“I know some students here see a cop and have that in the back of their minds,” said Muñoz. With regard to the amount of SROs being reduced, he said, “I think that some students will be relieved and maybe some other students will be stressed, so it’s the students’ point of view and what they believe in.”
However, many school administrators believe that the SROs provide comfort and protection for the students, especially with the rising threat of gun violence in schools. McClatchy has had multiple gun threats and bomb threats in past years, including a threat this year at the safety assembly. People are afraid that, with the increased number of mass shootings, officers would not be able to respond quickly enough if one did occur.
Administrators also feel that SROs made school atmosphere more comfortable for students by creating good relationships with them.
“SROs provided extra resources, services, and opportunities for students at the schools they served,” said Assistant Principal Martin. “Not having SROs definitely makes my job more challenging. However, sometimes we need to accept the decisions that are being made above us because we don’t always have access to all of the information needed to fully understand it.”