Reinstate SROs in high schools to curb teen violence and reform at risk youth.

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The Issue

My heart is shattered and my life forever changed. My son was a bright, hopeful teenager with dreams and aspirations that could have lit up the darkest paths. Tragically, his life was cut short by an act of senseless violence that has left our family devastated. I am writing not just as a grieving mother but as a member of a community seeking solutions to the alarming rise in teen violence.

In our schools, student safety should be a priority, a promise upheld by the communities and systems designed to nurture young lives. However, the current state of affairs paints a grim picture, with teen violence reaching dangerous and terrifying levels. Families, like mine, are being ripped apart by unspeakable tragedies. This crisis demands immediate action.

The presence of School Resource Officers (SROs) in high schools has been proven to act as a deterrent to violent incidents. They do not just enforce rules; they build relationships, guide students towards positive choices, and intervene before situations escalate beyond control. An SRO might have steered my son and countless others away from the wrong influences, toward safer pathways.

According to U.S. Department of Justice research, schools with SROs report fewer instances of violence, providing an environment where education can thrive without fear. Removing SROs from our schools has left a dangerous gap that endangers students and staff alike. We must act now to fill this void and restore a sense of security and order within our educational institutions.

Reinstating SROs is not merely about policing; it's about protection, prevention, and guidance. These officers serve as crucial allies in fostering safer school environments where students can focus on learning. We need to support and empower our youth to dream and grow, free from the shadows of violence and fear.

We are calling on local school districts and educational authorities to take immediate action and reinstate School Resource Officers in all high schools. The safety and future of our children must come first. Support this petition to bring back a proactive and protective presence to our schools.

Please join me in this vital cause by signing the petition. Together, we can save lives and protect our children from becoming statistics in a tragic narrative. Your signature is a step towards meaningful change and a safer future for every student.

The Decision Makers

Edmonds District 15 School Board
5 Members
1 Responded
Nancy Katims
Edmonds District 15 School Board - District 5
On behalf of the Edmonds (WA) School District Board of Directors, thank you for sharing the petition you are sponsoring regarding School Resource Officers (SROs) and giving us an opportunity to respond. We certainly appreciate your forwarding our response to all the respondents who live within our school district. First of all, safety is of the highest priority to us, at every one of our schools. It is a complex issue with many factors, and multiple possible strategies that can be utilized in maximizing the safety of our students and staff. We currently have a very comprehensive safety program across the district, which you can find here: https://www.edmonds.wednet.edu/our-district/departments/facilities-operations/safety-security You'll see that we have measures for prevention, protection, and mitigation, as well as well-defined procedures for emergency response and post-emergency recovery. One of the most important strategies that works well is that we strongly encourage our students that if they see or hear something of concern, they need to tell an adult. There are various safe ways for them to communicate possible threats to safety, and many adults they know and trust in the schools and in their personal lives in whom to confide. We are very proud of how well our students have been sharing things they hear from other students or see on social media. Note that we have strong partnerships with all our local law enforcement agencies in the district. Their response times to calls from the schools are extremely quick -- usually within about 3 to 5 minutes. Honestly, in our comprehensive high schools, it could take an adult such as an SRO at least that long to walk from one end of the school to the other. The topic of SROs is a complex one. Research on this topic is at best inconclusive regarding whether or not SROs are effective in reducing violence either within schools or across a community. We have input from some of our own students that they become very agitated and have difficulty learning when there is an armed police officer on a regular basis in their school. Other students report feeling more safe. It is difficult when the perception of safety is different from student to student, and when perceived safety may differ from actual safety. That all being said, the School Board and district leaders continually monitor our safety procedures and are open to new evidence-based strategies that would enhance the safety protocols we currently have. And, the serious topic of youth/gang violence goes far beyond the scope of the school district to include our entire community. From an overall perspective, what is truly needed is a strong community-wide coalition of leaders to work on solutions -- to include mayors and city councils of each city, law enforcement agencies, parents, mental health organizations, service organizations, health organizations (e.g., Verdant), gun control advocacy groups, and student leaders, as well as school district leaders. We have begun to broach this concept to key community leaders and hope to bring together a strong group to address safety issues across our community. We would hope that respondents on your petition would be eager to join such a coalition to move from the concept of "an easy fix" to a truly deep initiative designed to positively impact the entire community. Please know that our conversations on this topic are ongoing, but that we strongly believe that safety protocols currently being used in the district are quite robust. We appreciate the advocacy of your respondents on behalf of all our students, staff, and community. Nancy Nancy Katims, Ph.D. (she/her) Edmonds School Board President Director, District 5 [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]
Hawk Cramer
Edmonds District 15 School Board - District 3
Carin Chase
Edmonds District 15 School Board - District 1

Supporter Voices

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