Recently, the debate over the presence of police officers in schools has stirred controversy in Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed his support for the removal of school resource officers (SRO) from Chicago Public Schools (CPS). However, William Howard Taft High School Principal Mark Grishaber believes that the decision should be left to the Local School Councils (LSC) rather than the Board of Education.
Grishaber argues that each school's LSC should have the authority to decide whether to retain their SROs or let them go. He acknowledges that in the past, there were issues with the system, but through the efforts of Jadine Chou and CPS, the SROs are now placed in schools that want them, and they are trained accordingly. Grishaber believes that the LSC, consisting of parents, teachers, and students who understand the school's environment and needs, are best equipped to determine the necessity of SROs.
In contrast, Mayor Johnson supports the decision made by the Board of Education to end the contract with the Chicago Police Department. He affirms that there is an intergovernmental agreement between CPS and the police department, and ending that agreement is something he fully supports. The mayor's stance aligns with the Chicago Board of Education's plan to remove all officers from school grounds by taking away the decision-making power of the LSC. Alderman Nicholas Sposato expresses disappointment with this decision, claiming it goes against the principles of democracy.
The Illinois Policy Institute, a think tank that analyzes policy decisions in the state, argues that the LSCs already have the power to remove officers, and stripping that local control takes away the ability to adapt to the unique circumstances of each school. They believe that the LSC members are the ones who possess the knowledge and understanding necessary to determine the necessity of SROs based on the needs of their respective schools.
While CPS officials have informed principals to prepare for the possible removal of police officers by the next fall, Principal Grishaber believes that it is crucial for both the mayor and the board to listen to and respect the decisions made by each LSC. He emphasizes that the safety of the students should be the top priority, and if the mayor and the board genuinely care about student and community voices, then the decision should be clear.
It's worth noting that the relationship between CPS and the police department has been viewed as controversial since forming a $10.3 million contract. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has been advocating for the removal of police officers from schools, citing data, experiences of brutality, and the call for police-free schools from students, parents, teachers, and staff.
Although Mayor Johnson initially condemned the presence of armed officers in schools during his mayoral campaign, he later supported the idea of LSCs voting on whether to have police officers in schools after being elected. Some schools opted to remove officers from their premises in 2020, while others, including William Howard Taft High School, voted to retain them. Principal Grishaber expressed concerns about the potential decision, emphasizing that safety is their primary concern.
To support his stance, Grishaber referenced a survey demonstrating that the majority of parents, faculty, and students at his school support police officers in schools. However, he was disappointed to learn that the board had seemingly already made up its mind. He believes that the board, which includes individuals who were once part of an LSC, should understand the importance of localized discourse, accountability, and giving a voice to communities when determining what is best for their schools.
William Howard Taft High School is just one of the 151 high schools in CPS, serving over 4,000 students. CPS oversees a total of 646 schools and caters to approximately 300,000 students. As an alternative to school officers, CPS officials are considering implementing 'roving units' of police officers that would patrol the areas surrounding schools to respond to any threats to student safety.
The debate surrounding the presence of police officers in Chicago schools is complex and evokes varied perspectives. It raises questions about democratic decision-making, student safety, and the role of community voices in shaping education policies. As the discussions continue, it remains to be seen what the ultimate outcome will be for school resource officers in Chicago Public Schools.
