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Students press for limits on SROs; board adopts SRO policy and asks administration to add Miranda-rights language
Summary
Student speakers urged strict limits on school resource officers (SROs); the board adopted Policy 4407 and directed administration to return with revised language addressing Miranda rights and other safeguards.
After extended public comment from student advocates, the Milwaukee School District board approved Policy 4407 governing school resource officers and directed administration to return with language addressing Miranda rights.
Student leaders from the YES (Youth Empowered in the Struggle) coalition and community advocates urged strict restrictions on SROs in classrooms during a work session on policy review. Nicholas X. Daugherty, a Milwaukee Turners mass-incarceration coordinator, said, "Police shouldn't be in MPS at all," and warned that the presence of armed officers can traumatize youth and undermine learning. Tanaya Purefoy, a Riverside High School student and YES leader, told the board, "YES students do not support SROs being in our classrooms. We feel like their presence disrupts our learning environment and disproportionately harms students of color." Pamela Westfall, director of the YES program, thanked the board for restoring prior policy language and praised student advocacy.
Ramadan Abdul Ghafoor, another YES leader, said the group seeks strict rules for state-mandated SROs, including clear limitations on officers leading instruction and specific circumstances governing use of force and chemical restraints. "We find it necessary to include in specific circumstances that would require the use of force and chemical restraints as a method of de-escalation," he said, calling for clear guidance because SROs will be working with children.
President Zamber acknowledged the students' role in shaping the policy and noted the district still must negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the Milwaukee Police Department; some provisions may need to be captured in an MOU or in city-level procedures. Zamber moved approval of Policy 4407 as attached and directed administration to return at the next SPB meeting with an updated version that includes Miranda-rights language. The motion passed on a roll call with seven ayes.
The board’s action adopts Policy 4407 as presented and asks administration to return with the specified Miranda-rights language and any additional clarifications resulting from MOU negotiations or legal review.
