The Chicago Board of Education is currently deliberating the removal of School Resource Officers (SROs) from public schools, with a decision expected as early as January 25.
This move aligns with the vision of Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson, who, during his campaign, emphasized that “armed officers have no place in schools in communities already struggling with over-incarceration, criminalization, profiling and mistrust.”
Should the decision pass, it would result in Chicago Public Schools not renewing its $10.3 million contract with the city for officer deployment in schools. While some School Board members support this decision, a significant number of school administrators are expressing their opposition to the removal of officers.
Last year, 40 Chicago high schools held votes on whether to retain officers on their campuses, with 39 schools choosing to keep SROs. Despite this, the school board initiated a meeting with principals in December, which did not unfold as school administrators had anticipated, according to Troy LaRaviere, President of the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association.
LaRaviere revealed that principals were denied the opportunity to provide input on the decision regarding SROs, despite assurances that they would have a say in the determination.
“They were told that the board had made a unilateral decision, without the input of the people who actually run the schools,” LaRaviere said.
One key benefit highlighted by school officials in support of SROs is the personal relationships these officers build with students. LaRaviere emphasized the challenge of relying solely on 911 in the absence of SROs.
“If you don’t have an SRO, what are you supposed to do? You don’t have the SRO with the relationships. You have to call 911. And then you have to get the luck of the draw,” LaRaviere told CBS News Chicago. “Cops with no relationships with the children show up.”
Mark Grishaber, a high school principal in Chicago, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the training and familiarity SROs have in dealing with teens within a school community. In an article by Nadig Newspapers, Grishaber noted, “The SRO has been trained and knows how to deal with teens in a school community. You can see the difference.”
