Parent urges no SROs in elementary schools; district meets with Des Plaines police to expand SRO program

During public comment at the Jan. 29 Committee of the Whole meeting, Deb Behnke, a Ridge parent, told trustees she does not believe elementary schools need a school resource officer and urged the district to rely on existing officer-friendly programs and school safety measures.

Behnke said she had spoken with neighbors who were unaware of kindergarten information nights and urged the district to resume mailed newsletters so families without social media are informed of school events.

Administration update and next steps District administrators said they have been working with local police partners for the last two years to expand SRO coverage. Doctor Assel told the board that district staff have been in contact with the Des Plaines Police Department and will meet with Des Plaines administration “to talk about timelines, hiring process, and plans for an SRO that would be housed at Friendship and serving our Des Plaines schools.”

Director Malek and administration said the district will publish a winter edition of its safety booklet with an update on its SRO evaluation and other safety committee goals. Staff committed to include a follow-up note in the Friday update that reports on the Des Plaines meeting.

Distinctions in the meeting Public commenters and trustees voiced differing views about whether SROs are appropriate in elementary schools; the transcript records public comment opposing SROs at the elementary level and district staff describing ongoing partnership talks with municipal police to expand coverage in certain municipalities. The board did not take a formal vote on SRO policy at the Jan. 29 meeting.

Ending Administrators will share the safety booklet and a Friday update about the Des Plaines meeting; trustees asked staff to continue reporting evaluation findings and timelines to the board.