The Chicago Board of Education voted to remove uniformed police officers from 39 out of 634 city schools, sparking mixed reactions.
While some argue it will impact public safety negatively, others see it as a step towards addressing racial concerns.
“I’ve never realized one important word that comes to mind, and that is choice. This word in particular has been under attack. I constantly say my prayers as I drop off my children, and it’s very disappointing,” mother Yalila Herrera said.
“And it’s unfortunate because not everyone is in agreement with this result. We need our police officers to have that bond, that special bond with our students and our staff. We’re all a community,” she said, noting that many students “feel safe” having the officers with them.
“We lost three Chicago public school students a week apart with the violence,” Herrera said. “What about our South and West Side schools where there’s so much crime?”
“Now they’re not allowing us and giving us the power as parents and teachers and principals to decide what schools truly need,” she said.
Critics worry about the safety of students in high-crime areas, while supporters emphasize the need for a more inclusive decision-making process.
“The fact is that Black folks are tired of getting disrespected by folks who don’t live in our community,” community activist Dwayne Truss said.
The board plans to reallocate funds to alternative safety measures like security guards, Safe Passage workers, and restorative justice programs.
“We want to be clear that many schools will still employ physical safety personnel like security guards at points of entry, and crossing guards and Safe Passage workers to ensure students can get to and from school safely,” the board said.
“Some schools will also continue to use physical security tools such as security cameras or metal detectors. Furthermore, each school will still maintain a relationship with their local Chicago Police Department ‘School Sergeant,’ a position assigned to each police district to provide safety support to schools.”
