The PPS Safety Task Force has posted its recommendations that will be shared with the school board during tomorrow night's meeting, 5/9/23 at 6pm; the agenda is on the pps.net calendar. (See 'red' link below for full report.)

The goal of our grassroots community petition has always been the reinstatement of School Resource Officers - SROs from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Youth Services Division - along with Police Safety Patrols. Technically, this is the task force's recommendation.

Specifically, the report recommends 'a partnership with PPB to rebuild and reimagine the Youth Services Division (SROs) and create agreement outlining rules, roles and responsibilities'. This is a step in the right direction as police patrols will return 'near' schools this Fall 2023 as a pilot program to help deter criminal activity and create clear parameters for engagement. As the saying goes, 'Rome wasn't built in a day'! 

PPB had an exemplary SRO program prior to the school district's decision to disband it in 2020. The PPB Youth Services Division must work to re-establish this relationship with PPS. Education about the benefits of SROs, through community interaction, will be key to the program's success and growth, and will open the possibility of SROs returning to the halls of PPS. Make no mistake, there is no substitute for positive one-on-one interpersonal relationships in schools, to build rapport with students, and de-escalate and deter violence, though in the midst of a divided country, baby steps are a victory in my book!

There were 300 responses to the family survey sent out by PPS this month (a dismal amount considering the size of PPS). It's not too late to email the school board - School Board and respond to the survey requesting SROs inside schools (PPS Safety and Security - Survey for Family Input). 

Here is the full report: PPS Safety Task Force Recommendations

Thank you for your dedication to the safety of our public schools. We have certainly changed the conversation and made a positive impact on the lives of our school communities!

#ReinstateSROs #PortlandPublicSchools #PPSSafety