MILWAUKEE, WI - On Tuesday, January 20, the Milwaukee Public Schools Board of Directors' Committee on Legislation, Rules and Policies voted unanimously to move forward with a policy that would limit the role of school resource officers (SRO) in their schools.
The resolution directs administrators to create a comprehensive policy outlining what SROs can and cannot do on school campuses, as required under Wisconsin's Act 12, WTMJ reported. The state law mandates that at least 25 officers can be assigned to schools across the district.
Under the new resolution, which was introduced by Board President Missy Zombor, the student would be responsible for criminal matters only and would be prohibited from participating in school discipline, classroom instruction, or most non-criminal student behavior.
School administrators would retain final authority over discipline decisions. The policy also places strict limits on police involvement with students, including when officers can question students, conduct searches, make arrests, or use force. Strip searches would be prohibited, parents would be notified following arrests or questioning, and students would be informed annually of their rights when interacting with officers.
The resolution reportedly cites national data showing black students and students with disabilities are referred to law enforcement at disproportionate rates, along with past evaluations recommending clearer definitions of officer responsibilities. It also calls for increased transparency and accountability, including a formal complaint process and quarterly public reports detailing arrests, searches, use of force, training materials, and the number of officers assigned to each school.
During public comment, students and educators raised concerns about over-policing and the escalation of minor school issues. "We don't want our schools to be built on intimidation," said John Fleissner, a teacher at Hamilton High School and education advocate. "We want schools based on liberation. We believe in having discipline, but we want self-discipline and passion to be the reason students come to school."
Students echoed similar concerns. Elijah Shorts, a student at Milwaukee Marshall High School, told the board that the presence of officers has not improved his sense of safety. "Having officers in my school hasn't made me feel safer," Shorts said. "I saw the overuse of non-lethal at my school and I saw a bunch of the officers using bodily force over the smallest reasons."
"They are not trained enough to deal with kids inside a high school," he added. "Did y'all know that they have like 40 hours for their training? I don't think that's enough to deal with kids with hormones inside of a school."
District administrators are expected to present a draft policy to the board for consideration later this spring, along with proposed changes to the intergovernmental agreement between Milwaukee Public Schools and the City of Milwaukee.
The resolution directs administrators to create a comprehensive policy outlining what SROs can and cannot do on school campuses, as required under Wisconsin's Act 12, WTMJ reported. The state law mandates that at least 25 officers can be assigned to schools across the district.
Under the new resolution, which was introduced by Board President Missy Zombor, the student would be responsible for criminal matters only and would be prohibited from participating in school discipline, classroom instruction, or most non-criminal student behavior.
School administrators would retain final authority over discipline decisions. The policy also places strict limits on police involvement with students, including when officers can question students, conduct searches, make arrests, or use force. Strip searches would be prohibited, parents would be notified following arrests or questioning, and students would be informed annually of their rights when interacting with officers.
The resolution reportedly cites national data showing black students and students with disabilities are referred to law enforcement at disproportionate rates, along with past evaluations recommending clearer definitions of officer responsibilities. It also calls for increased transparency and accountability, including a formal complaint process and quarterly public reports detailing arrests, searches, use of force, training materials, and the number of officers assigned to each school.
During public comment, students and educators raised concerns about over-policing and the escalation of minor school issues. "We don't want our schools to be built on intimidation," said John Fleissner, a teacher at Hamilton High School and education advocate. "We want schools based on liberation. We believe in having discipline, but we want self-discipline and passion to be the reason students come to school."
Students echoed similar concerns. Elijah Shorts, a student at Milwaukee Marshall High School, told the board that the presence of officers has not improved his sense of safety. "Having officers in my school hasn't made me feel safer," Shorts said. "I saw the overuse of non-lethal at my school and I saw a bunch of the officers using bodily force over the smallest reasons."
"They are not trained enough to deal with kids inside a high school," he added. "Did y'all know that they have like 40 hours for their training? I don't think that's enough to deal with kids with hormones inside of a school."
District administrators are expected to present a draft policy to the board for consideration later this spring, along with proposed changes to the intergovernmental agreement between Milwaukee Public Schools and the City of Milwaukee.
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