On Wednesday, February 27th, the Piedmont School Board had their bi-monthly meeting to discuss and vote on accepting or rejecting a grant for the implementation of a Student Resource Officer (SRO) at the Piedmont and Millennium High Schools.

Randall Booker, Superintendent, presented the plan for Piedmont’s SRO with a grant that would fund this project for the next three years. Driven by the results of the Healthy Kids Survey which raised alarm regarding increased drug and alcohol usage among students, Booker’s goals for the program were to strengthen transparency and improve the school culture. With more adults with eyes on campus that know the landscape and the students, and a clear MOU, Booker shared that he believed implementation of an SRO would support Piedmont’s principle of being a “district of continual improvement”.

Chief Jeremy Bowers of Piedmont Police Department and partner in the creation of the SRO plan, outlined the department’s current involvement at the secondary Piedmont schools, reporting that 400+ calls have been made to the Police Department from the schools from 2013-2018 – which is 1- 2 calls per week, all in addition to having officers in front of and around campuses patrolling traffic. Bowers believed that an SRO would help improve the learning environment, and be a constructive complement to the Piedmont School District.

Officers from both Los Gatos-Monte Sereno and Atherton Police departments shared their experiences with an SRO, calling it a “very successful program” that has led to the creation of important personal relationships that allow students to feel safe calling the SRO during a crisis. Having someone who understands the culture of the school and knows how to interact with the students has led to a form of educational discipline customized for each student. They also shared some of their other programs, like the juvenile and vaping diversion programs, which have been constructive additions to the school environment.

Booker and Bowers eased some worries by outlining the detailed plan for Piedmont’s SRO, including ways to prevent overcriminalization; however, board members seemed weary over the fact that the SRO would be armed, as did community members.

According to Booker’s survey, 75.3% of parents said they were concerned about the firearm, and 56% saw no benefit in the program. 56% of students also said they saw no benefit in the program, and that it set the wrong tone for students, especially for those who already feel marginalized.

Mr. Kessler, representing the Association of Piedmont Teachers, expressed concern with the implementation of an SRO, stating he was against having an adult filling so many roles on campus.

Thirteen high school students from Piedmont and Millennium High all shared their thoughts agreeing that this program would hinder their school environment. Some gave suggestions for solutions, including implementation of the vaping diversion program to prevent drug use, and active shooter drills to help students feel better prepared in a school crisis.