The Naperville District 203 School Board approved a new agreement with the Naperville Police Department on school resource officers this week, but not before some board members expressed concerns about the policy.
Board member Donna Wandke wanted to make sure the protocol didn’t get misinterpreted as allowing teachers to carry guns, a hot-button issue the board had previously opposed following a push by rural schools.
“We’ve had to go through resolutions where we’ve had to battle to not arm teachers,” she said at a June meeting. “I think being specific here would be important.”
Board member Charles Cush wondered how the district will measure the criteria that resource officers create a safe and welcoming environment for students.
Chala Holland, assistant superintendent for administrative services, said a feedback form will be given to all families involved in incidents with school resource officers.
“We’ll consider that not only for the overall evaluation process, but consider it toward ongoing growth and improvement, as well as an opportunity to identify professional learning and professional development experiences not just for the SROs but also for our staff,” she said.
Changes in the new policy comply with state laws that officers wear body cameras and minor students not be questioned or detained at school without the presence of a parent, school social worker or licensed mental health professional.
Under the agreement, there will be an officer assigned full time to each of the high schools and half time at each of the four junior highs.
“I know that there’ve been multiple staff members who have worked on this, and we’re so grateful to you that you were able to bring it to completion,” board President Kristin Fitzgerald said. “And we’re grateful for the partnership (with the police department) in terms of really understanding the value of security and the things that you all are able to provide to help us have safety for our students and staff.”
The agreement will go before the Naperville City Council in July for final approval. The policy has been in the works for the past two years.
“We thank the Naperville Police Department and the city of Naperville for their collaboration with us,” Superintendent Dan Bridges said. “We have been working on this for quite some time.”
Giles Bruce is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.