Background

The SRO program is a 22 year program that has successfully provided a safe learning environment for students, teachers, and school administrators in Fremont Unified School District (FUSD). The school Board voted 3-2 on Nov 12, 2020 to end the Student Resource Officer (SRO) Program that places 1 police officer specially trained to work with youth at each high school. This has left a big void.

What did we lose?

• Point of triage to quickly assess threat perception and call in the right resources needed: from safety to mental health.
• Response in seconds, instead of 5.5-6.5 minutes for patrol cops- which can impact outcomes in critical situations.
• Fastest response from 911 to any incident in school.
• Deterrence to crimes such as gang activity, theft, drug dealing from the mere presence of SRO.
• Assistance with breaking up fights, defending against armed attacks, etc. The responsibility falls upon teachers and administrators which puts their lives in danger.
• Proactive monitoring of problems in and around school area, and on social media.
• Ability to admonish instead of report on minor offenses.
• Diversion programs and mentorship to prevent pipeline to prison.

Our Asks:

• Extend: Contract with Fremont PD must be extended. FUSD is not being charged for SRO while school is closed.
  
• Fix: FUSD administrators and Fremont PD must work together to implement policies for an improved SRO program.
  
• Change: Safety and mental health are not mutually exclusive. Board needs a change of mindset towards prevention of mental health issues which is safer and far less expensive than treatment. FUSD must initiate programs for stress reduction, stress relaxation and increase inclusion and diversity.

Concerns with Decision to terminate SRO:

• Community ignored: In July, SurfBoardE conducted a survey (*1) where 65.5% of 6190 respondents including parents, students, teachers, staff, administrators and alumni voted in favor of SRO. FUSD Board ignored the overwhelming community support for SRO.
• Bias and Conflict of Interest: Board appointed a task force with a majority of members who have publicly shown their bias against SRO. Parents were grossly under-represented in the 25 member task force. 2 of the mere 5 parent spots were given to FUDTA aligned members. Fremont PD was not even given a chance to defend themselves against the accusations. The task force was chaired by the spouse of powerful FUDTA President, which presented a huge conflict of interest as FUDTA leadership is on record against SRO.
• Scapegoating of PD: SRO was terminated based on a conclusion of disparate impact on Black and Hispanic students, and SRO was blamed for it. There is an average of 30 referrals to law enforcement and arrests per year, in the district of 35,000+ students. In over 90% of arrests, an administrator called in the SRO for help (*2), which negates the argument of racial bias by SRO.
• No alternative in place: The task force failed to recognize the value of the SRO (*3) or seek to improve it. The board voted to end the program with no plan, cost estimates, timeline or feasibility study for an alternative.
• Dependence on De-escalation: In the absence of SRO, teachers, staff and administrators are expected to de-escalate (*4) fights, armed attacks, and self-harm situations. The task force also wants them to have a choice4 between reporting suspicions of abuse to CPS or Police. This could open them up to lawsuits.
• Responsibility for gaps: The concerns raised about lack of measurable goals, insufficient data collection and lack of policies for administrators to protect students are failings of the FUSD board, not Fremont PD.
• Not an either or: Mental health services and SRO are both needed. Task force was not asked to choose between them, or to find ways to save money for FUSD or the city.

References:

(*1) SurfBoardE survey https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NQXHeWc9lqzLFIXM7o0SssDjqwOTE5-o/view?usp=sharing

(*2) Details of arrests in the last 2 years (page 10) https://drive.google.com/file/d/190TF7AMtM0Jj35kbH54fGSFhpMXZqpy5/view?usp=sharing

(*3) SRO Presentation in July 29, 2020 Board meeting https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/fremont/Board.nsf/files/BRT26H00A743/$file/SRO%20Presentation.pdf

(*4) SRO task force final report. De-escalation and abuse reporting responsibilities of teachers (page 26) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cvKgxfUDOl25gKjOfzSJdxw1eCvjvcEY/view?usp=sharing