Ban Police Officers From MA Schools: Teachers Union

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Teachers Association called on state officials to address racism and implement several coronavirus safety measures before schools reopen in the fall.

The association's demands, released Thursday, include ending the presence of police officers in schools and having the state provide personal protective equipment and coronavirus testing.

The recommendations come as protesters nationwide call for an end to systemic racism and police brutality following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Rayshard Brooks. Some of the protesters have called for defunding police budgets and allocating funds for community-oriented programs.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association calls for taking money used to pay for school resource officers and diverting it to fund programs for mental health and social and emotional well-being.

"It is time to redefine safety," the association said in a statement. "Districts must change how they meet the emotional health and safety needs of students and identify and obtain the necessary resources to keep students, educators and communities safe. We must end the presence of police in our public schools and instead invest in social support systems."

Union officials argued reopening school can't be possible unless they are fully funded and adequate staff are hired for schools to combat racism and the coronavirus pandemic.

But not all Massachusetts teachers associations have come out in support of removing police from schools.

The Barnstable Teachers Association said in a statement it does not support removing school resource officers. Members said they stand by their relationship with the Barnstable Police Department.

"Our school resource officers are just that—a wonderful resource to our students and our staff," the statement read. "They make connections with kids and uplift our school communities."

Barnstable police in a statement thanked the local teachers association for supporting their work in local schools. They also expressed frustration with the state association, arguing it doesn't value the time and effort school resource officers put in to build positive relationships with students.

"If you are in favor of taking SROs out of schools, please understand that we are doing so much more than simply providing security and law enforcement within the schools," Barnstable police said in a statement. "We are an ear that will listen, a coach, a mentor, an educator, a trusted adult, a counselor, a service provider, a facilitator of resources, among so many other positive things to all the students of the schools regardless of race, gender, economic status, etc. The law enforcement aspect of being an SRO is very minimal."

But the Massachusetts Teachers Association argued a lack of school staff is what's hurting school districts — not a lack of school resource officers. According to the union, staff are needed to foster the health, academic, safety, social and emotional needs of all students. Lack of investments prior to COVID-19 left too many school districts with unreasonable large class sizes, a lack of counselors and insufficient resources — particularly in schools serving low-income families and students of color, the association said.

"Progressive revenues are necessary to make reopening possible," the union said in a statement. "Student and staff needs will not be sacrificed due to artificial funding constraints."

Additionally, the Massachusetts Teachers Association said students and educators with compromised immune systems need to be provided alternative ways to attend school. The union also argued for paid medical leave.

Also Read:

• Patch Survey: MA Schools Should Require Masks
• Barnstable Teachers Association Supports Having Police In Schools