Removing Police From Framingham Schools A 'Priority Discussion'

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham Superintendent Robert Tremblay says that removing police from city schools is now a "priority discussion" between him, the mayor and police chief. His response follows a petition from parents and students about removing school resources officers, and a larger nationwide discussion about police presence in schools.

The group Framingham Families for Racial Equity in Education and the Black Student Union released a petition on June 9 seeking support for removing the district's school resource officers. The document has been signed by over 600 people as of Monday.

The group says that having police in schools exposes minority students to more discipline, and the possibility of arrest — what's known as the school-to-prison pipeline.

School resource officers have long been used to provide security and other services in schools, but they became more popular following the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Framingham Superintendent Robert Tremblay told Patch that he's seen communities demand more security in schools in the wake of shootings. The need for security needs to be balanced with the need for students to feel comfortable in school, he said.

READ: Framingham Group Wants Police Out Of Public Schools

There are two Framingham officers in city schools, and a third at Keefe Technical High School.

Other districts around the U.S. are removing officers from schools following large-scale unrest over police violence in recent weeks. On June 10, Seattle Public Schools suspended its resource officer program for one year. Minneapolis has done the same.

Here's Tremblay's full statement on school resource officers:

In my experience, School Resource Officers are particularly effective when they can establish positive relationships with students and families. We must, however, be mindful that the presence of a police officer in school may evoke other emotions that cannot be minimized. If those relationships are not positive ones, then we must correct our course and Chief Trask and I are committed to that effort. I recall that in the wake of past school shootings, for example, many communities were insistent upon increased police and security presence in schools. As a school and district leader for more than two decades, I have experienced the range of emotions that accompanied such efforts, yet ensuring the safety of students was then and continues now to be paramount. The Framingham Public Schools have partnered with the Framingham Police Department and we are grateful for two dedicated officers to support our students and families. While I cannot speak for every community, I can assure the Framingham community that we are committed to strengthening relationships with all of our community first responders and forging healthy relationships with students and families. We must, however, commit to actions that ensure that our students feel safer - not more fearful - with the resources that are provided to us. This will continue to be a priority discussion for me, Mayor Spicer, and Chief Trask.