If you care about how police are interacting with your children in schools and communities, then Baltimore City Schools needs to hear from you. Beginning July 13, the school system is hosting a series of Community Meetings this summer about the role of school police and the relationship between police and children. This year we faced the Baltimore Uprising in the aftermath of Freddie Gray’s death; the unexpected bill to allow school police to carry guns in schools (HB101), and the resulting redeployment of school police into the community. We need to influence decisions about the role of police in our schools so that we can help create a safe, healthy school environment for our children. City Schools spends $8.5 million on school police, several millions more than the amount allotted to academic offices like STEM, Career and College Readiness, and Achievement and Accountability. Is that where we want that money to go? In order to know, we need answers: · Why are school police being deployed to our communities? · Are kids with behavioral problems arrested in schools rather than disciplined using the Code of Conduct? · How many kids are being arrested in school and for what offenses? · Who monitors school police activities? How do we hold them accountable when kids are wrongly arrested? · Are school police trained to deal with kids? What about kids with disabilities? · What do students, administrations, teachers and staff expect from police? · What is BCPS doing to stop the flow of children from the school system into the juvenile justice system? · Where do parents and students go when they have a complaint about school police? The Maryland Coalition to Reform School Discipline continues to work with the school system to get answers. We seek transparent data; clear written policies for school police and school personnel on when police involvement is necessary and when schools should handle things on their own, policies on police action when they do get involved, and training for police including cultural competency and disability awareness. The Mayor, with the help of many city leaders, has taken steps to examine the City’s police force and find ways to ensure fairness, proper training, and a cultural shift toward protection, not harassment. A similar approach is needed when planning the role and actions of school police and leaders charged with protecting our children and schools. We urge you to ask questions at these community meetings so that we can start building a more transparent system where families understand the role of school police; receive accurate information about arrests in schools; and are confident that police are adequately trained to work with children and keep schools safe. Dates & Locations Monday, July 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Paul Laurence Dunbar High - 1400 New Orleans St. Friday, July 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Forest Park High - 3701 Eldorado Ave. Saturday, July 18, 9-11 a.m. Baltimore City Public Schools Board Room - 200 E. North Ave. Monday, July 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Violetville Elementary School - 1207 Pine Heights Ave. Monday, July 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Southeast Anchor Public Library - 3601 Eastern Ave. Wednesday, July 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m. (for Hispanic families) Southeast Anchor Public Library - 3601 Eastern Ave. Thursday, July 30, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Hamilton Public Library - 5910 Harford Rd.