A lot of public schools have police officers and SROs (school security officers). But one school system in Chicago is trying to change this. As a result of the George Floyd case, protests, and other events that led to this, this subject has been taught in a lot of different schools.
A vote is planned by the Chicago Board of Education to decide if they should keep the police officers in their public schools under a $10 million deal. As early as January 25, the choice could be made, and the school system is said to have “already made its choice.”
In his campaign for mayor, Brandon Johnson said, “…armed officers have no place in schools in communities already struggling with over-incarceration, criminalization, profiling, and mistrust.” Johnson also said that he didn’t think police should be allowed in schools.
That being said, he is letting Local School Councils decide if they should be in schools or not.
Some people are against the choice to take SROs out of schools, like the principal of Taft High School who said that safety is their “main concern.”
In contrast, the Illinois Policy Institute, which keeps an eye on how state laws change, says, “Each school in CPS is different.” Members of the community who serve on Local School Councils, like principals, know what their schools need and how they work. They are the best ones to decide if school security officers are needed, which means that schools should make their own decision.
Following what happened with George Floyd, the Chicago Teachers Union pushed for cops to be taken out of schools in 2020. They said that “people have seen the violence and are calling for schools without police.”
Plus, they said some people just want the agreement “to be better used for restorative justice coordinators, social workers, nurses, trauma supports, and other important school programs.”
If the Chicago Board of Education decides not to renew their deal with the Police Force, they will officially vote on this issue in the summer.
