Richmond, Va (NewsradioWRVA.com) - The Richmond School Board voted by a 5 to 4 margin to keep School Resource Officers in city schools. However, they want their role to change as well as their appearance.
Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras recommended that the SROs not be in full uniform, only what he called "soft" uniforms. He also recommended that School Resource Officers discontinue mentoring sessions with students. A further recommendation is that the Richmond Police Department and the public schools develop a diversion program to end arrests on school grounds for non-violent offenses.
Richmond School Board member Stephanie Rizzi suggested that perhaps volunteers from the community could come into schools and fill the mentorship void. The topic of School Resource Officers had been debated by the Richmond School Board for a while.
