The Oakland School Board is now considering a resolution to eliminate the Oakland Unified School District Police.
The George Floyd Resolution was introduced at a meeting Wednesday night by board director Roseann Torres.
"Obviously the times are calling for change… we are looking at massive cuts or changes to our budget for years because of COVID-19," she said. "And so this is a way to reimagine how we educate children without harming them with constant contacts with police."
Superintendent Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammel has endorsed the resolution.
"I am recommending that we move forward to create a district wide safety plan to ensure safe, healthy, and positive school environments for students and adults WITHOUT a school district police department," she wrote in a statement. "It is important to name that our Chief came to OUSD with intentions to provide safety and security services aligned to our district's mission, and that the Chief is in full support of my recommended path forward."
During a virtual 30 minute public comment period, callers overwhelmingly supported the resolution as well.
Parent Austin Deal Asa says the types of issues that school police respond to could be better solved in other ways.
"We need to be pushing for more nurses, counselors, psychologists, mental health and social workers and of course restorative justice programs in our schools to adequately support the diverse needs of our students," he said.
Students like Charles who goes to Castlemont High School, who said of his school's campus police officers, "it's like OUSD sets their students up for failure. There is no need or role for police in our schools. All these officers do is walk around harassing students."
Another caller said the money should be diverted to supportive services. "Maybe instead of calling the police on a student who's having behavioral problems, we should be calling on someone who's qualified," she said.
Now that the resolution has been introduced, the board can vote on it as early as their next meeting on June 24.
