TVDSB continues to pause police-in-schools program
CBC
The Thames Valley District School Board is continuing to pause its student resource officer (SRO) program, and is adding more diverse representation to the leadership team reviewing it.
In September, the TVDSB's director of education Mark Fisher issued an apology for the SRO program, which places armed police officers in schools.
Fisher's apology followed a months-long review indicating the program had a negative impact on students, particularly those who identify as BIPOC.
That review included consultations with students, staff, parents and community members to gauge their feelings on the presence of armed police officers in school hallways. The SRO program was then paused, following recommendations from a leadership team that includes leaders from N'Amerind Friendship Centre and Black Youth Connect.
At last night's meeting, the board amended its motion on pausing the program.
Trustee Carol Antone said the board's initial decision to review the SRO program originated from a recommendation put forward by the Black Lives Matter leadership team in June 2020. However, the present leadership team does not include a BLM member.
"It was unfortunate and disheartening to hear that a representative from the Black Lives Matter organization was not part of the leadership committee for this review," said Antone.
But current consultations are enough to show that the SRO program has generated harm among students, argued student trustee Harini Satheeskumar.
"The resources that are going into this program to be revamped and re-looked at once again could instead go toward supporting the input of community members and social workers in schools," said Satheeskumar.
"These resources do not have to go to this program, even for students who did not have a negative experience with it."
The board ultimately voted to include BIPOC student representation on the leadership committee.
It will decide on whether the SRO program will continue once after a further review of the program is completed. The leadership committee is required to provide the trustees with quarterly reports of the SRO review, along with any recommendations for approval.
The Toronto District School Board voted to end its SRO program in 2017, after finding it caused some students to feel uncomfortable and intimidated.
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