Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carlynton SD recommends Darren Fisher for school police officer amid calls for community outreach and implicit-bias training
Summary
Administrators recommended Darren Fisher as the district's school police officer and described his qualifications; public commenters urged the board to consult community advocacy groups and ensure implicit-bias and disability-sensitive training before the officer starts.
The Carlynton School District's administration told the board on June 3 that its interview team recommends hiring Darren Fisher as the district's school police officer, citing his experience leading school-security teams, participation with PBIS and SAP teams and previous roles in local law enforcement and federal agencies.
The superintendent told the board Officer Fisher currently serves as chief of police for the Ferguson Area School District and is experienced with coordinated school-safety efforts; staff said his onboarding would include ensuring required certifications and mandated trainings and that an anticipated start date would be in August.
Several members of the public during open forum urged the board and administration to consult outside organizations and community stakeholders before placing an armed officer in school buildings. A comment submitted during open forum asked whether the district had reached out to the GEAR Foundation, Black Women for Better Education, the Education Law Center or Leon Ford to discuss how armed officers affect students of color and students with disabilities. The commenter said some students' prior interactions with police can cause panic or trauma and asked that the district engage those groups before implementation.
Board members and the superintendent said they expect engagement with stakeholders and emphasized the board's intention that the officer be integrated as a student-centered team member. The board also discussed ensuring appropriate training; public commenters specifically urged implicit-bias training and attention to disability-related responses for officers and staff.
Administrators indicated the school-police hiring item was included in the meeting's personnel slate (section 6) that the board later approved by voice vote. The transcript does not include the officer's employment contract or detailed final start date; the administration said it will confirm certifications and mandated trainings during onboarding.
