The CHCCS School Board voted to establish a School Safety Task Force at its July 23, 2020, meeting. The impetus for the vote was responding to various stakeholders’ concerns about the renewal of the School Resource Officer (SRO) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which lapsed on June 30, 2020. The Board received hundreds of communications before the July 2020 meeting from both supporters and critics of the SRO program. Backers cited the responsibilities of SROs in building relationships with students, educating them about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and weapons, and their role in ensuring physical safety and security. Those in opposition to the SRO program pointed to the over-policing of schools, the negative social and emotional impact on students of color, and the lack of documented effectiveness as reasons to eliminate the program. In many ways, the discourse about SROs in schools reflected the national dialogue about defining community safety and security and the best methods for creating engaging and welcoming environments for all.
In May 2021, after reviewing task force challenges, the administration reorganized its scope and structure to define the group’s work and goals. The original task force was divided into three areas:
The central organizing question guiding each area’s work is, what do students and staff need to feel and be safe in CHCCS?
Resources
Guiding Council Running Agenda & Notes
October 26, 2021
November 30, 2021
February 22, 2022 (Proposed)
February 28, 2022 (Proposed)
Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Time
What (Topic)
How (Process)
Who
Resources
5:30 PM
Welcome & Updates
Sharing
Tracy Holloway
SRO Summit – Agenda
5:40 PM
Review Feedback Draft SRO Program Options
Discussion
Team
Draft of SRO Program Options – Link
6:00 PM
Review School Safety Task Force Community Survey
Dialogue
Team
List of potential survey questions – Link
6:25 PM
Next Steps
Sharing
Rodney Trice
See Notes Section
6:30 PM
Adjourn
Final Questions & Comments
Team
Next Meeting – Tuesday, January 5, 2022 (Happy New Year!)
Some Guiding Council members expressed frustration that a larger community conversation about school safety and security was not occurring.
Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Time
What (Topic)
How (Process)
Who
Resources
5:30 PM
Welcome & Introductions
Sharing
Tracy Holloway
Meeting Focus:
• October 26 – Information Meeting
• November 30 – Working Meeting
• January 5 – Working Meeting
5:40 PM
School Safety Task Force Overview & Updates
Presentation
Tracy Holloway
Rodney Trice
6:10 PM
Review School Safety Task Force Community Survey
Dialogue
Team
6:25 PM
Next Steps
Sharing
Rodney Trice
See Notes Section
6:30 PM
Adjourn
Final Questions & Comments
Team
Next Meeting: November 30, 2022
Notes:
Focus: Strategies for Safer Schools, Mental Health and Trauma-informed Schools and Family & Community Engagement
October 19, 2021
November 16, 2021
February 7, 2022 (Proposed)
February 15, 2022 (Proposed)
Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Time
What (Topic)
How (Process)
Who
Resources
5:30 PM
Welcome & Updates
Sharing
Tracy Holloway
SRO Summit – Agenda
5:35 PM
Review Feedback Draft SRO Program Options
Discussion
Team
Draft of SRO Program Options – Link
6:00 PM
If/Then Scenarios: Community Conflict and Online Bullying and Harassment
Dialogue
Team
If/Then Scenarios – Link
6:30 PM
Adjourn
Final Questions & Comments
Team
Next Meeting – Tuesday, January 11, 2022 (Happy New Year!)
Some Work Group Members wanted more details about each SRO program option.
Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Time
What (Topic)
How (Process)
Who
Resources
5:30 PM
Welcome & Introductions
Sharing
Tracy Holloway
Meeting Focus:
• October 26 – Information Meeting
• November 30 – Working Meeting
• January 5 – Working Meeting
5:40 PM
School Safety Task Force Overview & Updates
Presentation
Tracy Holloway
Rodney Trice
6:10 PM
Review School Safety Task Force Community Survey
Dialogue
Team
Workgroup 1 – Strategies for Safer Schools
Workgroup 2 – Mental Health and Trauma-informed Schools. Family & Community Engagement
6:25 PM
Next Steps
Sharing
Rodney Trice
See Notes Section
6:30 PM
Adjourn
Final Questions & Comments
Team
Next Meeting: November 16, 2022
Dr. Trice explained that the purpose of the SRO Interaction Form and the Community School Safety Survey is to obtain information about the scope of SRO’s job responsibilities and determine community perceptions of the SRO program, respectively. Some members questioned whether the general public had enough information about the SRO program.
Focus: Student Agency for Safer Schools (Student-Led Workgroups)
Saturday, January 22, 2022, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Time
What (Topic)
How (Process)
Who
Resources
10:00 AM
Welcome & Introductions
Sharing
Students
Gathering Activity
6:30 PM
Adjourn
Final Questions & Comments
Students
See notes section
Notes:
Students talked about an emotional disconnection with students and how emotional connections are powerful.
Students feel unsafe when they witness the mistreatment of Black students. One student gave an example: SRO’s follow Black students around and ask where they are going or for passes and give white students a pass.
Educators can enhance safety and security in schools (physical safety and social & emotional safety) by reporting and documenting incidents. Student questions: How are incidents being tracked and submitted to school staff and Central Office? How is the information being compiled? Are specific incidents being reported?
Students identified the following enhancements to promote school safety and security in schools (physical safety and social & emotional safety).
Students described the role of School Resource Officers as providing safety. A few students wondered if their presence should be outside of the school but on the school grounds. Students associated the impact of having a School Resource Officer mostly with school lockdowns.
The deliverables of the council are recommending options to the Board for safety and security enhancements and options regarding the SRO program.
Workgroups 1 & 2 will focus on strategies to ensure safer schools and inform the recommendations that prioritize the policies, protocols, practices, and the social and emotional wellbeing of students, staff, and community.
The role of Workgroup 3 is to identify student actions that promote safer schools.
School Safety Task Force guiding council and workgroups meet to identify strategies to enhance safety and security in schools and options concerning the future of School Resource Officer (SRO) program.
Guiding Council and Workgroup meetings postponed due to inclement weather and community impact of the increased spread of COVID variants.
The Guiding Council and workgroups continue to meet to identify strategies to enhance school safety and security and options concerning the future of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program.
Dr. Rodney Trice and Tracy Holloway will host virtual community information and input sessions during the moths of February, March, and April. The purpose of these events are to share information, answer questions, and receive input about school safety and security and the district’s SRO program.
Community School Safety Survey (Tentatively March 21, 2022 – April 8, 2022)
Dr. Rodney Trice and Tracy Holloway will host virtual community information and input sessions during the moths of February, March, and April. The purpose of these events will be to share information, answer questions, and receive input about school safety and security and the district’s SRO program.
Community Information and Input Sessions
• Thursday, February 24, 2022, 6:00 PM -7:00 PM
• Thursday, March 24, 2022, 6:00 PM -7:00 PM
• Thursday, April 14, 2022, 6:00 PM -7:00 PM
Community School Safety Survey (Tentatively March 21, 2022 – April 8, 2022)
Dr. Rodney Trice and Tracy Holloway will host virtual community information and input sessions during the moths of February, March, and April. The purpose of these events will be to share information, answer questions, and receive input about school safety and security and the district’s SRO program.
CHCCS School Board Meeting: Superintendent’s Report – Enhancements to School Safety & Security and Options Concerning the Future of the SRO Program – May 19, 2022
CHCCS School Board Meeting: D&A – Enhancements to School Safety & Security and Options Concerning the Future of the SRO Program – June 2, 2022
District and school administrators update safety plans based on the school board’s June 2022 decision (June 2022 – August 2022).