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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Board OKs placing deputies in schools

County board must still approve funding; some concerns aired

Fred Schumacher
Posted 8/19/16

REGIONAL— The St. Louis County School Board, on Monday, approved an agreement that could put St. Louis County Sheriff’s deputies in the district’s five schools.

Under the agreement, which …

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Board OKs placing deputies in schools

County board must still approve funding; some concerns aired

Posted

REGIONAL— The St. Louis County School Board, on Monday, approved an agreement that could put St. Louis County Sheriff’s deputies in the district’s five schools.

Under the agreement, which was advanced by school administration, two full-time deputies will serve as School Resource Officers (SRO), splitting time between the schools. One officer will serve in the north half, with the other serving in the south.

After presentations on the proposal, board members voted 6-1 in favor, with no discussion. The previous week, the St. Louis County Board voted 4-2 against providing funding for ISD 2142 SROs, leaving the proposal presently in limbo.

The administration had not provided school board members with proposed SRO job descriptions, program goals, or analyses of SRO programs in other districts. The board, however, did receive an extended presentation by Chisholm School Resource Officer William Purdy, who detailed his experiences with that city’s 742 students in three school buildings. Purdy said he served primarily as an informal counselor, guest speaker, and thirdly to act as a law enforcement officer. He emphasized that disciplining students remained the responsibility of school administration and staff. Prior to taking the position, Purdy received training through the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO).

Purdy said that according to the teachers, “...my presence gives a calming effect.” “My door is always open and 10 to 20 students a day come in to talk about issues at school or at home.... Their comfort level with me is huge.” By being an authority figure not directly connected with school administration, students feel safe opening themselves up to him, he noted, although it took about six months for that trust to develop. It’s not only students, but teachers also come to talk with him. Purdy actively moves around the buildings, visiting classrooms, sometimes acting as a teacher’s aide, and also interacts with students at extracurricular activities. He wears a uniform four days a week and goes casual on Fridays.

The board also heard from St. Louis County Undersheriff Dave Phillips, who had been invited by school administration to provide more details on his department’s role. Phillips noted that this is not a new program. Deputy Pat Olson had functioned as an SRO in the southern part of the district from 2008 to 2012, until funding expired, and would reprise that role under the new program, with Deputy Matt Krueger taking on duties for the northern part of the district. In the first year, the Sheriff’s Office would cover 100 percent of funding, with the school district providing a 25-percent share in years two and three.

Phillips expressed concern about the remoteness of the district’s rural schools and lack of local law enforcement presence and that an SRO can act as a “social resource.” When an SRO is “embedded, they know the kids,” said Phillips. School board member Bob Larson noted media reports of police overreaction in schools. “We don’t make every activity a crime.... We don’t want kids thrown to the floor... These are children. They may be defiant children, but they’re children.” Phillips agreed. “You’re absolutely right. No ‘pipeline to jail’ is a big part of NASRO.” He stated that there is a rigorous selection process and training for SRO candidates.

Other speakers addressed the board. North Woods Principal John Vukmanich said he spoke for all the principals in the district in supporting the SRO program. “Drugs, bullying, violence, truancy... law enforcement has experience to assist us in deterring this behavior.”

Dr. Leah Rogne, retired professor of the Department of Sociology and Corrections at MSU-Mankato, who lives in Greaney, cited research showing that as schools increase the use of SROs, the percentage of non-serious violent offenses reported to law enforcement increases. Rogne said this raises the concern that the presence of SROs “helps redefine disciplinary situations as criminal justice problems rather than social, psychological, or academic problems, and accordingly increases the likelihood that students are arrested at school.”

Rogne reported she also spoke with two professionals who work alongside SROs in the Duluth Public Schools. She said their comments on the progam were generally positive, but they advised communities considering the program to ask what’s happening in the schools that’s prompted the need, to make sure that the officers are trained in diversity and conflict resolution, and to make sure that the school administration continues to take responsibility for discipline. Rogne also noted a report on a program in New York City that had mitigated the potential problems with SROs by specialized training for the officers and a community involvement program including monthly meetings with the public, school officials, and law enforcement personnel.

Linden Grove resident Kathleen McQuillan said she learned of the SRO proposal only shortly before the St. Louis County Board meeting last week, which she attended in regard to another issue. “As a community, we didn’t know about this.” She noted the commission had been provided with very little information. “To make an informed decision more information is needed.... What has changed in our schools that this has become a path?” She stressed the need for community involvement to make an SRO program successful and suggested that the board put off a decision until further research could be done, more information gathered from communities that have done this before, and more community voices could be informed of and involved in the decision.

Melissa Roach of Cook, who had also attended the County Commission meeting, raised concerns about the proposal, asking “what is driving” the need for an SRO and what would the cost structure be after the three year cost-share period with the sheriff’s department. She also asked what security projects would be put off because of this new expenditure and who would be supervising the officers.

Two school district employees spoke in favor of the proposal. Director of Transportation Kay Cornelius read a letter from Jared Bangs, youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Cook, who saw the need for law enforcement as a “deterrent to delinquent behavior,” including the explosion of drug use, especially heroin. Bangs reported he had spoken with the Chisholm mayor who provided positive reports of Officer Purdy.

North Woods teacher Denise Parson said an SRO would be “one more person on our team. If (the students) are doing something illegal, that’s who I want to handle it.” Parson also noted she doesn’t want to deal with truancy. After the meeting, SRO Purdy stated he does deal with truancy but emphasized again that discipline is the responsibility of the school.

Deputy Pat Olson reported on his prior experience as an SRO at Cotton, Albrook, and Cherry schools. Building a relationship with the students is a priority, said Olson. “I’m not there just to write a ticket.” The quality of the officer’s personality is critical reported Olson. “It takes the right person in school with the right demeanor.” He had an “open door” policy but spent very little time in his office. “Visiting and getting to know the kids; it’s been a wonderful experience.” “They were the best years of my career,” he said. Board member Chet Larson said Olson did a fine job. “We just ran out of money.”

In conversation with Superintendent Sallee after the meeting, this reporter asked him if he had made a prior direct outreach to the community on the issue of installing two SROs in district school. Sallee responded, “No. I answer to the school board, not parents.”

In other action, the board:

‰Hired probationary teachers Aaron Donais and Sara Lorbiecki-Brown.

‰Accepted the retirement of Nurse Alice Skaudis.

‰Accepted resignations of support staff Dennis Hage, Paula Shermer, Tiffany Clemenson, and Gloria Niebuhr.

‰Hired assistant coach Connor Houle.

‰Approved a health insurance policy change to Medica.

‰Approved selling Tower-Soudan School football field to the city of Tower for $1.

Transgender issue

discussed

In a study session earlier in the day, the board heard a presentation from Attorney John Colosimo on regulations regarding transgender students. He said federal law was based on Title 7 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Title 9, of the 1972 Education Amendments dealing with sex discrimination. However, the most important consideration was the amendment to the Minnesota Human Rights Act passed by the Minnesota Legislature, providing “protected class status” to gender identity. This is the highest priority given under protections of state law and goes far beyond federal law, said Colosimo. Under protected class status, gender identity is the choice of the individual and not determined by a parent or doctor. Any claim of discrimination can be investigated by the Minnesota Human Rights Department, which can then convey the case to the Minnesota Attorney General for legal action. Colosimo told the board that state law is clear.“You have to comply with the law,” he said, noting that nearly all Iron Range school districts are making accommodations to stay within the law. He advised the board at this time not to take any action but to review the district’s errors and omissions insurance policy.