Charlottesville City Schools

Safety & Security Resources

Listening Session Comments & Survey Results

November 2020

Student Feedback/Survey

​

Written Responses from the Student Survey

​

• An officer who is currently a police officer would make me feel a lot safer than someone who used to be a police officer and someone with no law enforcement background

​

• The little amount of violence that occurs at school doesn’t necessitate a fully armed officer. However, if an SRO stays, they need to be thoroughly trained, and very thoroughly tested, to ensure that they can properly de-escalate, keep physical altercations to a minimum, and become more of a school resource officer, rather than a police officer.

​

• Personally, having SROs have really made me feel safe in the school environment. I actually think this does not have to do with their title, or background, or if they are armed or not, but is has to do with the environment that they have created for the students. In my eyes they have always made an effort to reach out to students, and make sure we know and are comfortable with what they do at CHS.

​

• It's what we usually had and it was fine

​

• The School Resource Officers are straight up useless. I've never seen them doing anything productive, so like what's the point of them even being there at school?

​

• I think it's not necessary or helpful for a school security officer to be armed but it could be useful for some form of security to be present to break up fights maybe.

​

Additional Survey Questions

Were there any places in school where you felt unsafe?

Response: The majority of students expressed that they feel safe within the school building.

​

Of these options, which makes you feel the safest at school?

Top 5 responses (In order by percentage)

1. Friends
2. Trusted relationships with teachers
3. Building is clean and comfortable
4. Locked Entrances
5. School Resource Officers

Listening Sessions - Breakout Questions

• What do you want the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee to know?

​

• What are your priorities & concerns for school safety and security?

​

• From your perspective, what are the safety/security needs at your school?

​

• What alternative safety/security measures would you like considered?

​

Staff Listening Session - November 16th

• Sense that decision to end the MOU was “quick” and without a plan to recover or backfill
• In general, students and staff feel safer with SRO’s, and some students have very positive relationships with SRO’s
• SRO’s provide an important connection with or between CPD and the community
• “We” (CHS) have incidents that require law enforcement (drugs, weapons, overdose situations that impact other students, fights)
• Building security is a concern - CHS has 70+ entrances and many “alternate” routes inside. Although generally locked, doors get propped open, hang on carpets, etc.
• Can we consider SRO’s not carrying lethal weapons, and maybe not wearing the standard uniform (which can be “triggering” from some students)?
• Staff need a point person to handle certain situations, and response time matters
• All SRO’s are not the same - officer selection is key - must be a fit for the school
• Officer training and practice are concerns
• Elementary shouldn’t be left out of this discussion (but “ineffective” at the elementary level)
• Staff & students need strong voices in this conversation - concern for under representation of staff in the session (additional session now being offered Friday 11/20, 1:00)

Staff Listening Session - November 20th

• CHS Group unified in preference for SRO’s over SSO’s:
• Concerned about quality/training for SSO’s and lack of community connections outside the school
• Most students are “ambivalent” to officers, but the #1 reason to have SRO’s is relationships - for those who aren’t ambivalent, the relationships benefit them outside of school (but the same relationships would likely not form in the neighborhoods)
• Direct line to emergency services for health and safety crisis is important and reduces response time
• Definitely don’t want to be without SRO’s; however:
• There needs to be clear lines for the duties, and school staff need to understand the lines as much as the SRO’s
• Fit is critical, and school administration needs to have input and right of refusal if an officer is not a fit for the school
• It’s important for teachers to feel safe and they value SRO’s as part of the CHS community (also reference statement from a CHS teacher who was not available to participate in breakout discussions)

Staff Listening Session - November 20th (continued)

​

• Elementary (3), Buford (1) & CHS (1) Group
• Majority felt that 1 SRO is needed at Buford, and at least 1 or several are needed at CHS
• 1 elementary person did not think officers are needed in the MS and HS - they felt safety of staff is important, but they felt safety of all students is also important
• Echoed that “fit” is critical and administration must have input
• It’s important for officers to visit elementary schools and have planned activities, but would love to see them visit without wearing all the gear because it can be triggering for some young students (because of what they see when police respond to their neighborhood)
• Need more mentors working with our students - police and others in our community
• Make sure both SRO’s and staff know “the line” as far as duties - expectations need to be clearly understood both ways

Community Listening Session - November 17th

• Shared commitment to safe/secure schools.
• Mental wellness staff/protocols are key.
• De-escalation training is important not only for “security” staff but for all staff.
• Prevention is the focus.
• Restorative practices grounded in mental health resources is important for all involved in an incident. (One model: Step program)
• Positive relationships have been a successful part of the past SRO model and should be prioritized in the new model. Have to build trust before there can be security.
• We don’t want the schools to be over-policed given the low risks involved and the relatively infrequent need for law enforcement on site.
• Fears about having weapons in the schools, the weapon creates its own risk.
• Range of opinions about whether SROs are helpful.
• Different kids will feel differently about police given varied backgrounds/experiences.

​

Community Listening Session - Nov. 17th (continued)

​

• Anyone who might restrain students needs training like special education staff receive.
• Students think about security and have not always felt safe due to lockdowns or fights. Children themselves are wondering what will be in place when schools reopen. Need a framework prior to school reopening.
• The challenge is, if not an SRO, how do we provide security.
• External threats should be addressed, esp if school grounds are open to the public. Are there protocols for monitoring who’s on campus?
• Could there be designated trained staff to handle disruptions?
• Some shared positive experiences with SROS on behalf of themselves or their students.
• What are we trying to achieve re: the use of SROs/SSOs?
• We need more data about the SROs and their past work in the schools - what kinds of interactions have occurred beyond just crimes? Have SROs put hands on kids?
• Do we need an armed guard in case of school shootings?
• Most parents came to listen and learn.

​