San Jose schools won’t have police officers on campus this fall to provide security, assault victim assistance or other services, according to a letter from the San Jose Unified School District sent to parents Friday afternoon.
By a 3-2 vote, the SJUSD Board of Education this week ended the longstanding partnership between the School District and the San Jose Police Department in failing to approve a proposed agreement with the City of San Jose.
SJUSD staff had recommended a proposal consistent with feedback from students, parents and employees that would have continued the partnership, placing officers at schools to maintain a safe and secure environment for students, employees and the community. The proposal would have ensured that officers are not involved in student discipline, that they receive specialized training to better understand and interact with youth, and develop positive relationships with students, according to the statement.
Over the next seven weeks, San Jose schools will now need to alter comprehensive safety plans, emergency trainings, and procedures for criminal activity on school campuses for the 2021-2022 school year. Large-scale events will need to be reduced or eliminated for public safety purposes as law enforcement support will no longer be available, and schools will work to determine how to replace the range of support school resource officers provide to students and staff.