Mothers and Fathers, do you feel like your kids are safe at school this year? 

Many people are deeply worried about the sudden changes in how a school resource officer (SRO) can protect teachers and students in Minnesota public schools. Up to now, a school district would contract with local law enforcement to provide security for middle and high schools across the state. It has been a very successful program to both prevent school violence and address violent student behaviors.  

A recent law change would prohibit SROs from using restrictive procedures, including even bear hugs, when a student is attacking another student or damaging property, except in extreme cases. Many parents, school officials and law enforcement groups are calling for a fix to this law that is now causing the removal of SROs from public schools.  

Current law already bans all neck and chokehold restraints and remains in place for students and all Minnesotans. Use of force is also already quite rare in schools, but experts agree that SROs need to have the ability to respond quickly to break up a fight or protect students and staff from violent student behaviors that are becoming all too common. The law change has made it harder for SROs to know when they can step in and use any physical restraints and leaves both schools and police departments without the kind of clear guidance they need to effectively and confidently operate SRO programs. 

As a result, many agencies are declining to provide SROs to local schools, which will put both students and staff at risk. This affects most Anoka-Hennepin schools and includes both Anoka and Coon Rapids high schools.

Our SROs play a central role in ensuring a safe learning environment for our students and teachers. However, the new statewide school discipline law changes are causing law enforcement agencies to remove their SROs, leaving our schools less safe. 

When this policy change moved through the legislative process, I had conversations with the Senate Education Committee chairman and the Minnesota Education commissioner about my strong concerns with this policy change. I urged them to also include school districts and others as these changes were adopted on party-line votes. Yet they refused to take any input and rushed this legislation into law. We are now seeing the results of their hasty and partisan decisions as more and more SROs are withdrawn from their school districts. 

Before our kids go back to school, it’s urgent that we repeal this language. That is why I am joining my colleagues in calling for a special session to immediately get this issue resolved. There is no time to waste.