The Senate Interim Committee on Education has proposed SB 238, which would prohibit School Resource Officers statewide.

Previously, there was an SRO at each of Portland’s nine public high schools. Most large high schools throughout the state hosted an SRO at their school.

If enacted, SB 238 would change this. It would be a statewide ban and would:

• Prohibit schools and school districts from employing SROs
• Prohibit schools and school districts for contracting for security at any school-related event (such as sporting events, concerts, etc.)
• Redirect funds “upstream to restorative justice” efforts
• Place restrictions on when a school could call police to situations involving “imminent serious physical injury”/crimes

What does this solve?

• This bill is part of the “Defund the Police” movement from groups like BLM/Reimagine Oregon.
• It is based on a false narrative that SROs are racist, target students of color, and contribute to a “school to prison pipeline.”
• Student activists and some radical members of the Portland City Council used the George Floyd incident last spring to propose these changes without any specific proof or data that SROs on campus are harmful.

What are the consequences?

• The SRO program is primarily preventative. They patrol neighborhoods around schools to keep students safe. They build relationships with kids, and help with bullying situations, violence, online threats, and can prevent school shooting situations through deterrence.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

• The nature of large sporting events, concerts, etc. necessitates security personnel to keep kids safe.
• Schools should be allowed the discretion to contact police as necessary.
• This legislation takes decision-making from the school district and imposes more statewide mandates on schools.

What are the equity issues? Is it fair that adults and lawmakers value protection for themselves, but not for Oregon students? On inauguration day, the Oregon State Capitol was protected by Oregon State Police and Oregon National Guard troops. There was no mention of “restorative justice” or reinvesting police funds to community groups on that day.

People who want to influence the process can contact the members of the Senate Education Committee.


--Mary Miller, Oregonians for Liberty in Education

Post Date: 2021-02-09 09:50:26

Last Update: 2021-02-09 12:30:05