Discussion on School Resource Ofﬁcers and Other Safety

Discussion on School Resource Officers and Other Safety Measures

Special Board Study SessionSeptember 15, 2021

Tonight’s AgendaProvide the Board with information to make an informed decision regarding strategies to increase student safety including:

▪ Historical context for initial July 2020 Board Decision▪ Research regarding the benefits, challenges and impacts of School

Resource Officers (SROs)▪ Data on suspensions and expulsions▪ Data from stakeholder surveys and Thought Exchanges▪ Roles of various positions linked to student safety▪ Other proposed safety measures▪ Staff recommendations for future next steps

Historical Context: School Resource Officers (SROS)Call to Action from the Community April-June 2020Community speaks to the need to remove SROs from the campus

Student Voice Listening SessionJuly 7, 2020Superintendent and staff participated in listening session with students on the presence of SROs

Introduction of SROs to PVUSD SchoolsWHS--1994 PVHS and AHS--2004PVUSD placed SROs on campuses

Stakeholder SurveyJuly 9-July 15, 2020All stakeholders were surveyed to provide input on effectiveness of SROs, and benefits/impacts of SRO presence

Board Report and DiscussionJune 24, 2020Staff presentation of research, suspension/expulsion data, risk management data, and June 2020 survey data

Board Official ActionJuly 22, 2020Board decision to remove SROs indefinitely from PVUSD Schools

PVUSD July 2020 Survey Data4



Research on School Resource Officers

Source: SRO Congressional Report 2013 “School Resource Officers: Law EnforcementOfficers in Schools”

The body of research on the effectiveness of SRO programs is limited, both in terms of the number of studies published and the methodological rigor of the studies conducted. The research that is available draws conflicting conclusions about whether SRO programs are effective at reducing school violence.

Research in this area is limited to a small number of studies, but these suggest that children in schools with SROs might be more likely to be arrested for low-level offenses. On the other hand, some studies indicate that SROs can deter students from committing assaults on campus as well as bringing weapons to school. Schools with SROs may also be more likely to report non-serious violent crimes (i.e., physical attack or fights without a weapon and threat of physical attack without a weapon) to the police than schools lacking SROs.

SROs engage in many activities that could contribute to school safety. A national survey of schools found that schools with SROs had significantly greater levels of law enforcement involvement compared to schools without assigned officers. SROs were more likely to report that school facilities and grounds were patrolled, safety and security inspections were conducted, student leads about crimes were investigated, and arrests were made.


Source: Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, 2020 “What the Research Shows: The Impact of School Resource Officers (SROs)”

SROs do not improve school safety or reduce school violence. There is no clear evidence that the use of school resource officers (SROs) or guards in schools is effective in preventing school violence. A review of 40 years of evaluations of school policing showed no positive impact on school safety outcomes.

Students feel less safe, and more fearful, at schools with SROs. Research shows that school security measures (including SROs) generally increases students’ fear and negatively impacts students’ perceptions of safety.

The presence of SROs leads to more expulsions and suspensions – particularly for Black students. Studies show that schools with SROs also rely more heavily on exclusionary discipline. Schools with high security (including police presence) have significantly more suspensions, and a greater black-white disparity in suspensions. Schools with SROs criminalize and arrest youth for minor misbehavior. When SROs or security are present in schools, trivial forms of student misconduct are more likely to result in arrest and court referral. Most secondary school administrators say their SROs are involved in school discipline, even in situations where no crime was committed.


Source: SAGE 2021 “Controlling Schools: How School Resource Officers’ Roles Map Onto Schools’ Behavior Management Strategies”

School resource officer (SRO) behavior varies across schools, but little is known about what shapes their behavior. While SROs work with students, schools’ broader context regarding monitoring, controlling, and behavioral management strategies might shape their roles. Community studies find that context shapes police behavior and is likely to apply to school context and SRO roles.

Drawing on ecological theories, which emphasize that contextual features shape individualbehavior, we examine three distinct school elements that might shape SRO roles: security measures, exclusionary, and restorative practices.

While initially introduced to maintain school safety, critics suggest that SROs excessivelymonitoring student behavior criminalizes marginalized students (Annamma, 2017; Kupchik & Monahan, 2006; Morris, 2016). In addition, schools with SROs who take a more reactive, law enforcement approach show poorer student outcomes (Devlin & Gottfredson, 2017; Fisher & Devlin, 2019; McKenna & White, 2018).


Source: ACLU 2019 “Cops and No Counselors”

Students are 21 times more likely to visit school-based health centers for treatment than anywhere else. Schools that employ more school-based mental health providers see improved attendance rates, lower rates of suspension and other disciplinary incidents, expulsion, improved academic achievement and career preparation, and improved graduation rates. Data shows that school staff who provide health and mental health services to our children not only improve the health outcomes for those students, but also improve school safety.

However, there is no evidence that police in schools improve school safety—indeed, in many cases they are causing harm. When in schools, police do what they are trained to do—detain, handcuff, and arrest. This leads to greater student alienation and a poorer school climate.

Students with disabilities were arrested at a rate 2.9 times that of students without disabilities. In some states, they were 10 times as likely to be arrested than their counterparts. Latinx students were arrested at a rate 1.3 times that of white students. Black and Latino boys with disabilities were 3 percent of students but were 12 percent of school arrests.

Research on Mental Health and Juvenile Justice System

Source: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 2017

➔ Mental health disorders are prevalent among youth involved in or at risk of justice system involvement.

➔ Research shows that a large proportion of youth in the justice system or at risk of becoming justice system involved have diagnosable mental health disorders.

➔ Research shows 2/3 of youth in detention or correctional settings have at least one diagnosable mental health problem compared to 9-22% of the general youth population. Diagnosis commonly includes behavior disorders, substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD disorders and mood disorders.

➔ Risk factors could increase the occurrence of both mental health and problem behaviors in youth.➔ Research demonstrates that individual risk factors and psychological factors such as aggression,

restlessness, hyperactivity…were correlated with youth violence.➔ Multiple studies show a connection between childhood violence exposure and antisocial behavior.➔ Relationship between mental health problems and involvement in the juvenile justice system is

complex… “although these two problems often go hand in hand, it is not clear that one causes the other. Many youths who offend do not have a mental health problem, and many youths who have a mental health problem do not offend.”

September 2021: Empower Watsonville Student Forum

➔ The students feel that there are not enough counselors in the district--students in crisis must make an appointment with no immediate support. They stated that we need more support during the transition period of returning to in-person learning. Recommended hiring more social-emotional counselors.

➔ Wellness Centers are not available to students at all times. There is no clear communication of wellness referral forms for students. They asked for extension of drop in hours at wellness centers until 5pm.

➔ Other recommendations were to provide more mental health training for teachers and staff so they can better respond to students in crisis and support their emotional well being.

District-Wide Counseling Services: 2018-2021Counseling services across the district have increased with additional counseling professionals and mental health clinicians.

23High School Counselors10% increase since 2018

17Social Emotional Counselors

55% increase since 2018

14*Mental Health Clinicians

180% increase since 2018*includes 5 SELPA+2 ECE

19School Psychologists

12% increase since 2018

Increased Social Emotional Support Over TimeSupport the Whole Child Through Their Academic and Social Emotional Needs

July 2006

Hired first set of social emotional counselors

July 2020

Used monies from SRO contracts to hire one mental health clinician for each high school

June-August 2021

Hired one academic counselor, five additional social emotional counselors and one mental health clinician using federal one-time funding

August 2020

Expanded PVPSA services for non-MediCal students and families to allow all PVUSD students to receive services

August 9-12 2021

Restorative Start training for staff and families to support all students feeling of Identity, Agency and Belonging

December 2021

Adding one additional mental health clinician for Wellness Centers

September 2021: Sown to GrowStudent Social Emotional Data

Student and Teacher Engaged = 1+ data point/week OR 3+/month

All students in 3rd grade and above are invited to use the platform


District Site Emotion Scale Outcome District Emotion Scale Average


Preliminary Pre and Post Measurement after SEL Instruction/Experiences (subset, three sites have logged post--survey)

Provides additional data to increase targeted SEL skills for students

939

715

500

48

313

680

967

716

569

61

986

4

4 4

42

57

29

3

14

35

1

2

1

5

3

7

3

2

PVUSD September 2021 Survey Data24

PVUSD September 2021 Survey Data25

September 2021 Thought Exchange Feedback

September 7-13


*Other- substitutes, class size, online school*No Idea Generated- thank you, appreciation of staff


*Rankings outcome by participants “Star Scoring” thoughts (5 being the highest)


Roles of Various Staff Linked to Student Safety School Resource Officer SRO responsibilities, when functioning as intended, can be placed into three general categories: (1) Safety expert and law enforcer: making arrests, issuing citations on campus, taking actions against unauthorized persons on school property, responding to off-campus criminal activities, and serving as first responders in the event of critical incidents at the school, (2) Problem solver and liaison to community resources: developing and expanding crime prevention efforts and community justice initiatives for students; (3) Educator.

Mental Health SpecialistsMental Health Clinicians and Socio-Emotional Counselors provide support to students and families in three general areas: (1) Mental health support to individuals, groups and families and provide direct support to students in crisis. Participate as a team leader in regards to conflict mediation. (2) Participate as a member of a public school mental health team: communicate and/or consult with a variety of organizations or agencies in obtaining services for students and families. Participate in student specific educational or mental health meetings such as SST or IEP meetings. Complete behavioral health assessments and treatment plans and create clinical interventions. (3) Compliance: maintain case files and submit records and forms as required by California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists professional and ethical standards.

Campus SupervisorsCampus Safety & Security Officers provide support to school sites in three general areas: (1) Safety support of assigned school: monitors school campus, parking lots, adjacent areas and other facilities to discourage loitering, harassment, improper behavior, property damage and theft; enforces district policies concerning weapons and objects brought on campus and discourages alcohol and illegal drug use and improper conduct on campus. (2) Problem solver: monitors assigned areas to assist students and resolve minor problems; assists students in developing and observing acceptable rules of conduct. (3) Compliance: prepares reports and maintains records regarding any problems or occurrences at the school site.

Other Proposed Safety Measures Restorative Practices and PBISRestorative practices engage young people in being accountable for their actions in an active way. It works by allowing decisions and conflicts to be processed by those directly involved in them. Students therefore develop and restore positive relationships within their own community vs. only experiencing punishment. This approach is beneficial because it address the inherent causes student misconduct and lowers the frequency. (TFI 2.5 Options for Tier 2 Interventions, 2.7 Practices Matched to Student Need)Approximate cost: $35,000

Additional Campus Supervisors and TrainingAdd one additional full time campus supervisor to the three high schools. POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) per SB 390. This includes; role and responsibility of school security officers, laws and liability, security awareness in an educational environment, mediation/conflict resolution, disasters and emergencies, dynamics of student behavior, and a one hour exam.District Safety and Security Walk Tool (CSSP, K-12 School Security by Homeland). Access Control, Building Exterior, Building Interior, Classroom Security, School Culture, Communications System, Security Equipment, Security Personnel, Cyber Security, Emergency Operations Plan.Approximate cost: $203,700 Training $150.00 each

Student Success ProjectContinue the Student Success Project through Santa Cruz County Probation at the three sites identified (PVHS, Renaissance, New School). Currently Grant funded through probation.Extend the partnership with Probation to include Aptos and Watsonville High. The program focuses on prevention through strength based assets, goal setting, assessing and meeting social emotional needs, and family/parent engagement.Serves probation and non-probation youth. Approximate cost: Evaluating Cost for 2 Schools

Other Proposed Safety Measures Improved Cell Service at Aptos High School We have reached out to both Verizon and AT&T to provide additional cellular coverage at AHS. One solution would be to place mini cell towers in the parking lot which would provide coverage for the entire site.

Approximate cost: None

Improved Communication SystemsRAVE Mobile Safety App. Instantly communicates emergencies to 911, on-site personnel, and first responders for integrated response. Also allows for geo-fencing.Approximate cost: $158,557.50 (5 yrs.)

Independent Evaluation of Aptos High School EventIt is our plan to contract for an independent review and evaluation of what exactly occurred leading up to and during the incident. We enter this process with the goal of determining whether there are changes or improvements to systems that should be made to prevent this type of tragedy and to improve student safety.Approximate cost: $30,000

Improvements to Security Camera SystemThe District is working on adding additional cameras to the Comprehensive High Schools providing an additional 25% coverage at the 3 sites and improving the current servers at each site. For example, AHS has 39 cameras and be increased to 50Approximate cost: $150,000The District is evaluating new surveillance software that will provide new features such as: Texting Alerts, Advanced Searching Capabilities, Pattern Recognition, Cloud Connectivity and Object Detection/Recognition.Approximate cost: Evaluating Options

Staff Recommendations for Future Next StepsIf vote Yes to SROs in PVUSD

SchoolsOption 1:

Pilot of pairing an SRO with Mental Health Clinician at two schools

along with other identified safety measures (slides 31-32)

Approximate cost: $1,197,257On-going Cost: $823,700One-time Cost: #373,557

If vote No to SROs in PVUSD SchoolsOption 2:

Add one additional mental health clinician at each comprehensive high school along with other

identified safety measures (slides 31-32)Approximate cost: $1,088,757

On-going Cost: $715,200One-time Cost: $373,557

Option 3:Implement only other identified safety measures

(slides 31-32)Approximate cost: $577,257

On-going Cost: $203,700One-time Cost: $373,557

Thank you for joining us this evening.Our community, together.

Documents

Discussion on School Resource Ofﬁcers and Other Safety