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  1. Daily Routines
  2. Safety & Wellness
  3. Police and the Schools

Police and the Schools

Our school board is dedicated to fostering an environment where every student can achieve academic excellence and personal growth in a safe and supportive setting.

As elected representatives of our community, we are committed to making informed decisions that shape the future of our schools. Our responsibilities include:

  • Policy Development: Crafting and implementing policies that promote high educational standards and equity.
  • Budget Oversight: Ensuring that financial resources are allocated efficiently and effectively to support student learning and well-being.
  • Superintendent Supervision: Collaborating with and providing oversight for the Superintendent to ensure the district's strategic goals are met.
  • Curriculum and Instruction: Evaluating and approving curricula that meet the diverse needs of our students and prepare them for future success.
  • Facilities Management: Overseeing the maintenance and improvement of school facilities to provide a safe and conducive learning environment.
  • Community Engagement: Encouraging active participation from parents, students, teachers, and community members to foster a collaborative educational community.

Our mission is to support every student in reaching their full potential by prioritizing safety, equity, and excellence in all our decisions. We invite you to explore our initiatives, participate in our meetings, and join us in our dedication to student success and safety.

Of all the safety/security decisions a school division makes, the question of whether or not to have police in schools full-time is among the most polarizing. 

In June 2020, the School Board voted to remove School Resource Officers (SROs) from schools. Since that time, numerous local and national safety situations have prompted some staff and families to request that we once again consider having full-time officers in our schools. We have also continued to hear from families and staff who are grateful that police are not in our schools full-time. In order to hear from a wider audience on this issue, in February 2023, we surveyed our community, and 60% of respondents “strongly” or “very strongly” supported exploring the possibility of having Youth Resource Officers (YROs) in our schools and the community (vs. 25% "strongly" or "very strongly" opposed to learning more). YROs would focus on diversion from the criminal justice system and would borrow elements from the world of social work to address student and family needs. 

After discussing this issue and hearing from the community in Spring 2023, the School Board decided to schedule a vote on Youth Resource Officers for March 2025 to allow time for further engagement as well as progress reports in October and December 2024.