Public commenters urge wraparound supports, question return of school resource officers
Summary
During public comment, residents and community leaders criticized past outcomes, urged investment in wraparound services and asked officials to define the specific problem SROs would solve before formalizing deployments; a former police chief and community members cited alternative models such as Harlem Children's Zone.
Public comment at the end of the joint work session focused heavily on school safety and the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for School Resource Officers (SROs), alongside broader frustration with district performance.
A resident said the district repeatedly requests more money but has not delivered results for lower‑income families, arguing that returning police to schools is the wrong response. The speaker told the board: "It's not okay... you can ask for money on behalf of them, but then you don't deliver anything." (public comment segment.)
Dr. Rochelle Brackney, a former police chief and doctorate holder in structural management and leadership, urged the board and council to define the problem SROs would solve and to consider alternative models that deploy wraparound services. Citing established examples, she told the panel: "What problem are you attempting to solve by bringing the school resource officers here? If you cannot answer that question you do not need to do something that I literally undid by removing them from this goal." Dr. Brackney and other commenters pointed to models that provide comprehensive, non‑policing interventions — including transportation supports and community partnerships — as alternatives.
Newly elected and community board members echoed those calls, urging the district to maximize existing Care and Safety Assistants (CSAs) through additional training and in‑building services, and to partner with nonprofits and housing agencies to address root causes that affect attendance and learning.
Officials present noted an MOU has been finalized and the chief and superintendent are prepared to sign, and said details about two officers and deployment remain subject to operational agreements and standard operating procedure workgroups. Public commenters said budget neutrality claims for SRO staffing should be scrutinized and pressed the board to prioritize measurable evidence that proposed changes will improve student outcomes before committing to new policing arrangements in schools.
