PSD to Decide If It Will Keep School Resource Officers

UPDATE: The Poudre School District School (PSD) voted 6-1 to extend the contract for School Resource Officers (SRO) program another year during a virtual meeting on Tuesday (June 23).

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Poudre School District (PSD) will decide whether or not to continue its School Resource Officer (SRO) Program in a virtual community board meeting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday (June 23).

Since 1995, PSD has worked with Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) and the Larimer County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) to implement the SRO Program in its high schools and middle schools.

In 2019, the Timnath Police Department (TPD) joined the SRO Program through Timnath and Bethke elementary schools.

But now, according to the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, the contracts between PSD and the above police departments are up for review.

During the meeting, PSD's Board of Education will have a discussion with the community before making a decision about renewing the contracts.

If approved, the contracts will commence on July 1 of this year and remain in effect until June 30, 2021.

During the 2020-2021 school year, PSD, FCPS, LCSO, and TPD will observe how the SRO Program fairs in regards to student discipline and engagement.

A Community Advisory Council will also work with the above organizations to ensure that there are standard procedures for investigations and interactions with students.

In April of 2021, PSD staff will summarize their observations for the Board of Education, who will then again review the SRO Program.

PSD is not the only school district taking a look at its relationship with police officers following George Floyd's Death.

According to CBS News, the board for Denver Public Schools (DPS) unanimously decided to remove all police officers from its schools on June 12.