(Bob Rossiter/The Canton Repository via AP)
In Berkeley, California, the school board has been studying the possibility of removing the one uniformed, armed police officer (School Resource Officer, or SRO) from the two campuses he patrols. This is a progressive move that’s been adopted by many urban schools seeking to “abolish the police” in any fashion possible. Rather than simply rushing to a decision, however, the board established a committee to evaluate the matter. The group was composed of parents, students and school administrators. The committee finally finished its work last week and reported its findings. Members of the board confessed to being “shocked” when the report recommended not only keeping the SRO on campus but expanding his role and possibly adding another officer to help out with his duties.
School board surprised by recommendation to expand police presence in Berkeley high schools
School resource officer program wins over committee but school board members still question if police are needed to keep schools safe.
The Berkeley school district is considering what role, if any, police should play in its schools.
At a board meeting on Wednesday night, school board members debated the role of the School Resource Officer (SRO), a single officer employed by the Berkeley Police Department who is stationed at school campuses.
Since 2019, Geoffrey Mitchell has been the district’s sole SRO. He works on the campuses of Berkeley High and Berkeley Technology Academy, the district’s continuation school, four days a week. He also tutors students on Berkeley High’s football team.
Berkeley parents protested outside BUSD headquarters and marched to Longfellow Middle School Saturday to ask the district to allow all students back to in-person classes. Photo: Pete Rosos
One year after Berkeley public schools shut their doors, and just a week after the district announced it would offer in-person elementary classes five days per week starting March 29, some parents are still pushing for middle and high schools to fully reopen. A protest this weekend was the latest action by a group of parents who have been advocating for reopening since the fall.
On Saturday afternoon, about 150 parents and kids marched from the Berkeley Unified School District offices on Bonar Street to Longfellow Middle School, where School Board Director Laura Babbitt and City Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani awaited the group.