Reply to Petition to bring back SROs

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Reply to "Petition to bring back SROs"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My problem with this thread and others is the idea that bringing SROs into each HS is some magical solution.  As opposed to comprehensive safety and security which would include: 1) Increased training and evaluation for other school security personnel, 2)Additional social work and counseling resources, 3) Increased training and PROPER implementation of restorative justice with key resources, 4) A hybrid of the current CEO program such that CEO are stationed in HS, but also making rounds in their cluster of schools and communities.[/quote]

In the same way you're accusing people of using SROs as a magical solution, you are as well with the oft-used but never useful phrase "increased training."

People love to throw out the phrase "increased training" as if MCPS has an incredibly talented but well-meaning staff who just need to be told what to do so they can do their jobs. First off, what training are you recommending and who do you recommend do the training? If precedence is the past and MCPS is running it, I assure you said training will be underwhelming, a one-off and ineffective at solving the safety and security problems we're facing.

Secondly, you're also throwing out the other magical phrase, "counseling services." We DID add more counseling services. Specifically, MCPS spent $1.6 million on telehealth mental services in 2022: https://moco360.media/2022/02/17/mcps-adds-nearly-6-million-to-proposed-budget-to-address-school-safety/

We also staffed these positions for mental health last year:

• $2,022,365 for 20.0 psychologist positions
• $1,735,046 for 19.0 parent community coordinator
positions
• $300,000 for contractual services
• $414,716 for professional part-time salaries

If this is the result we're getting with this level of investment in mental health services, why do we need to invest?

If we're going to meaningfully address the safety problem, we're going to need to deal in facts and figures. Not hopes and dreams. Or political ideologies.[/quote]

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