Should the current leading force in maintaining a secure environment inside the schools be taken away from the #security department and instead given to another department with no expertise in that area?

#Schools are required to provide students with a safe environment to learn, grow, and develop. This can only be possible through collaboration with the police department. The decision to separate these two will lead to instability.

A decision made back in 2004 supported the belief that DC Public Schools lack the necessary expertise. It’s an extra burden that would push them past their limits. This could severely compromise security at schools, which is the last thing we want. It should be noted that our school management is not trained to take care of security problems.

An increase in investment in mental and emotional health programs should not be at the expense of a safe and secure environment. Despite discontent surrounding the behavior of security personnel on campus which some have categorized as harassment, an altogether change in the system is not the solution. The need of the hour is training for on-campus police representatives in mental health care. This way, we can get the most out of their abilities to ensure a safe and sound environment while making sure that the mental and emotional health of the students is supported as well.

Duties should be left to experts who have been trained to do the work assigned. Schools should focus their energies on providing students with the best learning opportunities while taking care of their socio-economic well-being and fostering their mental and physical health. These are huge responsibilities, and adding security to these will only divert attention away from the most important duties of school management. 

Security should be ensured by well-trained MPD security officers. Their methods and training should be improved to make sure that all students feel safe. To ensure that the black community doesn’t feel marginalized and their security is not compromised, we must change as a society. Taking away the charge from MPD is not the right approach here. Instead, we need to prioritize education and awareness for all.