and Chief Executive Officer Recommendations

School Safety& Security Report

and Chief Executive Officer Recommendations

By Monica E. Goldson, Ed.DChief Executive Officer

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Table of Contents

School Safety & Security Reportand Chief Executive Officer Recommendations

Prince George’s County Board of Education

Introduction

Background on School Resource Officers in PGCPS

State Perspective on School Resource Officers

Training Requirements of School Resource Officers

School Arrests

Task Force Recommendations and CEO’s Response

Community Feedback on School Resource Officers

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6

8

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` Dr. Juanita Miller, Chair

` Sonya Williams, Vice Chair

` David Murray

` Pamela Boozer-Strother

` Joshua Thomas

` Shayla Adams-Stafford

` Raaheela Ahmed

` Belinda Queen

` Kenneth Harris II

` Edward Burroughs III

` Sandra Shepherd

` D. Paul Monteiro Jr.

` Curtis Valentine, M.P.P

` Ninah Jackson, Student Member

` Monica E. Goldson, Ed.D, Secretary-Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer

Board of EducationPrince George’s County


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School Safety & Security Report

Introduction

In the interim, County Executive Angela

Alsobrooks formed the Prince George’s County

Police Reform Task Force in July 2020 to study

and review the policies of the Prince George’s

County Police Department, covering the full

spectrum of its operations including hiring,

training, and use of force. Prince George’s

County Public Schools was represented on the

Task Force by Director of Safety and Security

Archie O’Neal with oversight by Chief of

Operations Barry Stanton.

Co-chaired by Maureen Lamasney and

State Delegate Alonzo T. Washington, the

task force was comprised of a cross-section

of government, law enforcement, community,

civic, and advocacy stakeholders, working

in pursuit of two outcomes:

1. Provide high-quality short-term internal policy changes and recommendations for best practices to deliver critical services to County residents.

2. Develop long-term strategies that involve the police and community working collectively to ensure safe living and working environments. The desired result of this collaboration is to strengthen healthy relationships where they exist and repair relationships with the community where trust has been compromised.

On September 14, 2020, the OBFA Committee met and voted on three addit ional recommendations for the Board of Education to consider during the September 17, 2020 meeting.

On September 17, 2020, the Board reviewed

and discussed all recommendations and

approved the following:

` Receive the CEO’s September 14, 2020 report

about school safety and security, regulatory

framework and school arrest data;

` Direct the CEO to add up to $5 million in

the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget for

enhanced mental health supports;

` Instruct the CEO to continue receiving

information from parents, staff and

community leaders, including the results

of the County Police Reform Task Force

(scheduled for completion on or before

October 30, 2020);

` Instruct the CEO to bring a report and

recommendation before the Board on

or before January 8, 2021 regarding the

status of SROs in the school system and

any additional related recommendations

regarding school security and student

support services based on her research

and findings.

On December 4, 2020, the County Police

Reform Task Force issued its 101-page report,

including recommendations, to the County

Executive for her review and consideration.

The Operations, Budget and Fiscal Affairs (OBFA) Committee of the Prince George’s County

Board of Education met June 8, 2020 to discuss two proposals brought forth by members of

the Board concerning the elimination of PGCPS School Resource Officers (SROs). Noting some

areas of consensus and disagreement between the proposals, the OBFA Committee made three

motions for consideration by the Board of Education on June 11, 2020. The proposal was tabled

for discussion and scheduled for reconsideration by the committee on September 14, 2020.


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Background on School Resource Officers in PGCPS

` The SRO arrested 48 people during the

1998-1999 school year compared to 35

people by School Security.

` During the 1998-1999 school year, police

responded to Northwestern High School

327 times.

` During the 1999-2000 school year, the po-

lice, other than the School Resource Officer,

responded to Northwestern High School

only 56 times, an 83 percent reduction in

the number of calls for service (271 fewer

calls).

This significant reduction was considered a

huge success and ultimately prompted the ex-

pansion of the current School Resource Officer

program to all county high schools. Lastly, it is

important to note that the responsibilities of the

School Resource Officer program were briefly

moved to the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s

Department before the Prince George’s Coun-

ty Police Department resumed jurisdiction.

SOME NOTABLE INFORMATION:

During the 1990s, educators, administrators, families and community members voiced a strong need to have police officers in schools to reduce crimes and serve as role models. Prince George’s County had witnessed a surge in homicides and other violent crimes involving youth. Through grant funds, the first SRO was established within PGCPS Security Services in 1998 and assigned to Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Prince George’s County Police Department and Maryland Park followed in 1999. On November 8, 1999, the Hyattsville City Police Department assigned an SRO to Northwestern High School on a full-time basis.

The relationship between PGCPS and the

law enforcement entity responsible for the

School Resource Officer program (i.e., county

or municipal police) is secured by a Memo-

randum of Understanding (MOU). The parties

enter into this agreement for the purpose of

establishing and improving the School Re-

source Officer program, defining specific du-

ties and responsibilities, and establishing a

working protocol for exchanging information

and addressing matters of concern cooper-

atively with the goal of maintaining and en-

hancing a safe and secure learning environ-

ment for students, staff and the PGCPS school

community. The Board of Education has four

standing arrangements with local police de-

partments to provide SROs at an annual cost

of $80,000 covered by Prince George’s Coun-

ty; there is no cost to PGCPS to operate the

School Resource Officer Program.

These MOUs include:

` Prince George’s Police Department

` Hyattsville Police Department

` Bowie Police Department

` Greenbelt City Police Department

The Bowie, Hyattsville and Greenbelt City Po-lice Departments MOUs expired on June 30,

2020. The Prince George’s County Police De-

partment’s MOU is set to expire on June 30,

2022.

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In 2013, the Maryland Center for School Safety was established to coordinate training based on best promises and practices in promoting a positive school environment related to prevention and intervention strategies.


State Perspective on School Resource Officers

The Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018 was passed in response to the increase in school shootings nationwide, notably the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida earlier that year, which claimed the lives of 17 students and left at least 17 others injured.

The Maryland Safe to Learn Act required public

high schools to have either a school resource

officer or plans for adequate law enforcement

coverage by the 2018-2019 school year. Public

elementary and middle schools were required

to have either a school resource officer or

plans for adequate law enforcement coverage

by the 2019-2020 school year. The Act also

required school districts and law enforcement

agencies to coordinate with the Maryland

Center for School Safety (MCSS) on trainings

and school safety plans and coordination.

In 2013, the Maryland Center for School Safety

was established to coordinate training based

on best promises/practices in promoting

a positive school environment related to

prevention and intervention strategies. By

September 1, 2018, MCSS, in consultation

with local school systems, was required to

develop a specialized curriculum to be used

in training SROs that addresses specified

issues. The curriculum was to be submitted to

the Maryland Police Training and Standards

Commission (MPTSC) for approval. By March 1,

2019, MCSS developed and submitted a model

training program based on the curriculum.

Each local law enforcement agency was

required to enroll SROs either in (1) the MCSS

model training program or (2) a local training

program approved by MPTSC that is consistent

with the approved curriculum. All SROs were

required to complete an approved specialized

training program by September 1, 2019.


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Training Requirements of School Resource Officers

1. SROs and school security employees

receive instruction in Maryland’s five-

day SRO training curriculum; individuals

providing “adequate law enforcement

coverage” to schools without assigned

SROs are not required to complete this

comprehensive training.

2. Topics required by law to be covered in

Maryland’s SRO training curriculum include

the following:

` Deescalation

` Disability Awareness

` Maintaining a Positive School Climate

` Constructive Interactions with Students

` Implicit Bias

` Disability and Diversity Awareness

(specific attention to Racial and Ethnic

Disparities)

Additional training components include

preparing SROs to fulfill four distinct roles

within a the school community:

` Educator

` Emergency Manager

` Informal Counselor

` Law Enforcement

It also includes defining the roles and

responsibilities of SRO:

` SROs will acknowledge the authority of the

principal as the administrator of the school

at all times as to matters within the scope

of his/her authority.

The Safe to Learn Act of 2018 mandates either the assignment of an SRO or adequate law enforcement coverage for each individual school within each of Maryland’s 24 local school systems. Any Maryland school without assigned SROs would still need to ensure that an individual with expertise in law enforcement was assigned to serve on the behavioral assessment teams serving the school system to comply with the Safe to Learn Act.

` The SROs will assist school staff in enhancing

safety inside their assigned schools and

serve as a liaison between his/her agency

and PGCPS officials for school and police-

related concerns and incidents.

` The SRO will be a visible presence and serve

as a positive role model for students.

` The SRO will assist in fostering amiable

working relationships between law

enforcement, staff and students.

` Unless there are extenuating circumstances,

such as rumors of a fight or some other

serious event, the SRO will patrol the school

and the school grounds on a random

schedule. (Personnel other than SROs

should staff assignments to stationary or

fixed posts on school grounds.)

` The use of force by an SRO will be done

in a reasonable manner in accordance

with the Police Department’s Use of

Force General Order. Any use of force by

the SRO will be investigated by PGPD.

The SRO should be familiar with PGCPS

Student Safety Administrative Procedures.


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School Arrests

Members of the Department of Safety and Security Services with arrest powers were granted special administrative powers by a local enforcement agency upon a petition from the coordinating agency. Other examples of branches with special arrest powers include the Prince George’s Community College Police and the University of Maryland Police, each charged with securing the safety of the students and faculty under their duty of care.

` Total Number of School Resource Officers = 33

` Total Number of Security Staff with Arrest Powers= 66

Students have been arrested for various offenses, including:

` Attack on Adults

` Attack on Students

` Destruction of Property

` Disruption

` Drugs/Controlled Substances

` Extortion

` Fighting

` Firearm

` Firearm on School Property

` Sale of Controlled Substance

` Serious Bodily Injury

` Theft

` Threat to Student

` Other Weapons

At present, there are 33 SROs with arrest powers assigned to work in high schools only. The PGCPS Department of Safety and Security Services has 66 School Security Staff with arrest powers. School Security Officers do not carry weapons. The only armed personnel in schools are SROs.

Total Number of School Resource Officers

33

Total Number of Security Staff with Arrest Powers

66

SY Arrest # # by SRO % by SRO

2019-2020 274 32 11.67

2018-2019 311 38 12.21

2017-2018 350 * *

* Disaggregated data on SRO arrest not available

SY Ethnicity # by Ethnicity

2019-2020

African American 235

Hispanic 33

White 2

Asian 2

American Indian 1

More than One Race 1

2018-2019


Hispanic 31

White 4

Asian 0

American Indian 0


2017-2018


Hispanic 0

White 23

Asian 1

American Indian 10



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Prince George’s County Police Reform

Task Force Recommendations and CEO’s Response

Recommendation n. 1Invest in mental health programs and restorative approaches to student discipline to help dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.

CEO Response: Accept

CEO Response: Accept

The investment in mental health programs and restorative approaches to student discipline remains a priority for the CEO and Board of Education. Since 2018, there have been significant financial investments to increase the number of mental health supports in our schools. PGCPS will continue to train more school staff annually on restorative approaches to reduce student discipline infractions.

An assessment of our current school security personnel assignments and the role of school security and principals/assistant principals in the implementation of the Student’s Rights and Responsibilities (Student Code of Conduct) policy will be conducted and completed by June 30, 2021. Any modifications will be made prior to the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

Recommendation n. 1AInvest in mental health programs and restorative approaches to student discipline to help dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline through realignment of PGCPS security protocol.

Recommendation n. 1BInvest in mental health programs and restorative approaches to student discipline to help dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline through restructuring School Resource Officers (SROs) and security personnel.


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CEO Response: Accept ` Arrest data from the past three years provides evidence

that a large portion of student arrests fall under the author-ity of PGCPS security personnel. It is important to note re-moving all arrest powers of internal security personnel may result in an increased number of arrests by SROs. Data will be monitored quarterly to ensure the intent of the recom-mendation is met by accepting this provision.

` PGCPS currently employs 211 Security Personnel for 58 sec-ondary schools; 66 security personnel have arrest powers. A reduction in security personnel with arrest powers will be implemented as part of the FY22 budget considerations and funds redirected to support mental health enhance-ments.

` The CEO will ensure that SROs meet with PGCPS Leader-ship quarterly to discuss ways we can support our students while reducing arrests.

` The CEO will explore the feasibility of “soft uniforms” (i.e. PGCPS uniform similar to other operational departments) for SROs or body cameras in consultation with PGPD and General Counsel to ensure adherence to student rights and privacy laws.

` The CEO will work with the appropriate labor partners to discuss the renaming of school security personnel and will make the necessary changes by July 1, 2021.

Recommendation n. 1CInvest in mental health programs and restorative approaches to student discipline to help dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by updating school safety training requirements.

CEO Response: AcceptPGCPS will continue to provide deescalation, mediation and crisis intervention professional development to all school based employees. Quarterly joint meetings with PGCPS stakeholders will take place at all high schools.

Recommendation n. 1DInvest in mental health programs and restorative approaches to student discipline to help dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by establishing school safety data metrics to eventually phase out security personnel.


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CEO Response: AcceptWhen financially possible, the CEO will make investments to increase school-based personnel to address student behavior concerns. PGCPS will continue to collaborate with the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services and the State’s Attorney Office to implement crisis prevention strategies and diversion programs. PGCPS will identify personnel to serve as a liaison between SROs and school security personnel for law enforcement purposes and student detainment and arrest.

Recommendation n. 1EInvest in mental health programs and restorative approaches to student discipline to help dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by investing in prevention and intervention programming for students.

CEO Response: Accept ` The Chief Accountability Officer will work with staff to es-

tablish school safety data metrics for optimal annual school safety milestones by July 1, 2021. PGCPS will also establish processes to ensure SRO arrest and use of force data is captured and published annually on the PGCPS website.

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Community Feedback on School Resource Officers

From December 21 through January 8, Prince George’s County Public Schools conducted a brief survey to assess the community’s support of School Resource Officers (SROs) in buildings and other school safety measures. There were more than 13,000 respondents. The responses are outlined below.

16

4

2

8

What is your role in the community?

Have you ever interacted with a School Resource Officer?

If you have interacted with a School Resource Officer, was the interaction positive or negative?

45%

39%

13%3%

Teacher or school-based staff member

Parent or guardian of a student

Student

Community member

How would you describe the role of School Resource Officers in maintaining a safe and positive teaching and learning environment?

55%27%12%6%

Very important

Important

Somewhat important

Not important

61%39%

Yes

No

Do you support additional training for School Resource Officers to help de-escalate incidents?

94%6%

Yes

No

92%8%

Positive

Negative

Do you support assigning School Resource Officers to elementary, middle and/or high schools?

80% 45%70% 9%

High schools

Middle schools

Elementary schools

None

3

5

Evaluate the following statements:

School Resource Officers build positive relationships with the school community.

70%24%

6%

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Law enforcement officers build positive relationships with the school community. 63%27%10%

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Prince George’s County Public Schools covers the cost of School Resource Officers.

56%35%

9%

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

7 If School Resource Officers are removed from schools, in your opinion, who is best equipped to maintain a safe and positive teaching and learning environment?

75%14%

Administrators

Educators

8%3%

Families

Students


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and Chief Executive Officer Recommendations