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A bit of a threat tonight about what happened at #epsb. Because this was a special meeting UNANIMOUS consent from all 8 trustees present was needed to proceed with a motion to reconsider.
Trustee Gibson said he did not want to discuss the SRO suspension (item G. https://epsb.ca/ourdistrict/board/meetings/june302020specialboardmeeting/) so therefore the board was not able to proceed.
Then Trustee Gibson made a request for information about our handbook and our policies as to whether or not it was in the purview of the board to make such a decision such as suspending SROs. (see https://epsb.ca/ourdistrict/policy/b/ page 9)
"the board has operated from primarily a policy gov. model" is what is written in the handbook.
Who writes the handbook? The Trustees. Each board sets their own rules of engagement and interprets it slightly differently across Alberta. Some Trustees are involved in staffing.
Who writes the handbook? The Trustees. Each board sets their own rules of engagement and interprets it slightly differently across Alberta. Some Trustees are involved in staffing.
Each board can write the handbook to give themselves latitude over a number of areas. 8 years ago, some felt mandating GSAs to schools was over reach. These are all careful conversations that must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Do Principals make budget decisions in their schools? Yes, but the SRO program is a result of a board MOU that defines the engagement between @edmontonpolice and #epsb. That means principals can't skate outside the MOU and the board can change or terminate the MOU as EPS can.
Do boards direct administration? All the time. Just because boards HAVE functioned "primarily" under a "policy governance" model, doesn't mean exceptions can't be made in areas of considerable public interest such as student safety or marginalized students.
So where do we go from here? I know the board still stands 100% behind @EPSB_Super and we know that we have many exceptionally talented principals and senior leaders. We also know that all of us (me included) have blindspots, especially around systemic racism as we have heard.
Schools have been vulnerable and opening their hearts re: First Nations, Metis and Inuit education. What is measured matters, and the annual reports are a testament to the frank and honest conversations about our failures and what we are doing to fix them.
Seclusion rooms and our inclusion journey are another example. These are difficult conversations but they are critical to us leading forward together.
Are there good SROs? Yes. Have many had positive experiences with them? Yes.
But have others also been harmed? Yes.
99% of students never entered a seclusion room either, but we always need to keep what is best for the most affected front and centre.
But have others also been harmed? Yes.
99% of students never entered a seclusion room either, but we always need to keep what is best for the most affected front and centre.
Ed historians told me that many parents and principals felt that boards banning the strap was a policy over-reach, out of scope, and would lead to lawlessness. Same when we mandated GSAs in 2012.
Education changes. Society changes.
Education changes. Society changes.
There's a lot more to say, but ultimately public education is a democratic project and it can be anything that you want it to be. Don't like your Trustee's vote, call them/me. Don't like the MLA underfunding ed? PLEASE Call them. Don't like your school culture? You get it.
Just because someone didn't make a formal complaint, doesn't mean that wrongs don't happen. Last summer May 27th, 2019 at 5:25PM I watched as a cop dragged and dragged a black man across the field by his wrists to his patrol car across the street.
It was in front of a playground full of children. The man did not need to be dragged by his wrists. He was cuffed on the ground.
They knew there was an issue because soon a van full of officers emerged on the playground and gave stickers to the kids and posed for photos. The officer knew I was taking photos and upset. He asked me if I wanted his badge number and I should have taken it.
If I got intimidated and discouraged from speaking out and afraid of reprisals, I can't imagine what a 14 year old student feels in a school when the principal AND a police officer if they see wrongdoing.
The number of "anonymous" emails and calls I've received from students, staff, and family about the SRO program are real and merit serious review.
If that officer was going to drag a man across a field by his wrists in front of a playground full of children, what would he do when no one is watching? This is what scares me and should scare you.
Who will guard the guards?
Who will guard the guards?
Why is it some in our community get "serve and protect" while others get "policing"? Where is the oversight? Where is the accountability?
As I'm tweeting this, I got another email from a parent and council chair who had a great experience with her SRO. I'm glad, but how do we account for the harms experienced by others at that same school I have heard about? Bad teacher? No one learns math. Bad cop?....
This is systemic racism. You may have a great teacher or great SRO. But if our system is producing outcomes that disproportionately harm marginalized groups, BIPOC, this is a major issue.
Not having/tracking data as @MLAIrfanSabir says is an example of systemic racism. #epsb
Not having/tracking data as @MLAIrfanSabir says is an example of systemic racism. #epsb
