Despite reduction of cops in Chicago schools, Board of Ed votes to pay $11 million to Police Department for resource officers
The Chicago Board of Education has voted to approve a one-year, $11 million agreement with the Chicago Police Department for the controversial school resource officer program.
The deal, which passed by a 4-2 vote, was forged after policymakers at more than 50 high schools developed plans for creating an environment of physical and emotional safety, with or without uniformed officers on campus. Nine schools over the summer elected to exit the program. Twenty schools opted to retain both of their officers, while 24 settled on keeping just one.
Schools that gave up one or both officers received funds to use on alternative strategies such as restorative justice coordinators or mental health supports, to the tune of about $3.2 million districtwide, Chicago Public Schools security chief Jadine Chou told the school board last month.
At that time, it was revealed that schools that decided to nix one officer could start the school year with two anyway at no cost to CPS while the Police Department reviewed the terms of the agreement. Chou called this a “temporary arrangement” that stemmed “out of concerns raised by CPD to ensure the safety of schools and their school communities.”
Board member Elizabeth Todd-Breland expressed dismay about the additional officers.
“I think all of this, for me, makes it just even more unacceptable that the Chicago Police Department has reneged on their commitments that they made in the (intergovernmental agreement) that they signed last year. That the IGA itself that was passed by this board included in writing that allowed for a process to reduce the number of (school resource officers) from two to one to zero, however schools decided,” Todd-Breland said at the August board meeting.
“Honestly, I’m a bit flabbergasted by it. I’m unclear what the safety concern is, or who exactly armed police officers would be afraid of in our school buildings.”
Wednesday, Todd-Breland joined Luisiana Meléndez in voting against the contract.
Meléndez said while she supported the transparency of the process, as a child development expert, “I’m very much aware of the negative impact of these officers on students, particularly students of color. ... We need to redefine what role, if any, a school resource officer has in a school.”
The move away from school police followed protests by community activists and students who said the program disproportionately affects Black and brown students and strengthens the school-to-prison pipeline. CPS worked with five community groups to devise recommendations for a “more holistic approach” to school safety.
The agreement with CPD for the 2020-21 year was for up to $12.1 million, but officers did not end up returning to Chicago high schools in the spring when the buildings reopened after a yearlong closure because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A district spokesperson said CPS will not be billed for any services for the last school year.
The new proposed deal is not to exceed $11.06 million — a cost that approaches last year’s approved number even with the cut in manpower.
“Although there has been a reduction in (school resource officers) being used at district schools, the value of the (2021-22) contract is similar to the previous year’s contract as it reflects more attendance/in-person days versus the previous year, plus it accounts for increased wages stemming from the recently ratified CPD-(Fraternal Order of Police) contract,” the district said in a statement.
CPS said there are “no substantive changes” to this agreement, which lays out the officer selection process and scope of services. Officer candidates must have an “excellent disciplinary history.” The school’s principal can interview and ultimately reject an officer candidate. Selected officers must undergo CPS training on the student code of conduct, youth crisis intervention, implicit racial bias and other topics. Officers are not to be involved in school disciplinary actions, per the agreement.
CPS said it will perform “compliance monitoring” of the program by meeting with CPD every two weeks and a federal monitor every month.
Interim CPS CEO José Torres signed off on the proposed deal. Incoming CEO Pedro Martinez told reporters last week that police in schools is “a tough conversation.”
“I am a big believer that our police officers should never be used for disciplinary actions. But we also have to balance, again, how do we ensure the safety in the schools?” Martinez said while answering questions at a news conference announcing his appointment.
“Most districts in the country have their own police forces where they can train them in a certain way on how to work with our children. We sort of have a little bit of a hybrid here, and so that’s something that I just want to explore with our police chief, with the mayor, and really try to see what’s the best solution for our schools. But like I said, my commitment is, I need to make sure we’re meeting the needs of parents, and parents want schools to be safe.”
