The LAUSD school board voted against defunding the Los Angeles School Police during Tuesday’s board meeting and are still debating the future of its 471-member police department. LAUSD has faced calls to disband the force in favor of reallocating funds towards other student needs, such as counselors and nurses.
Board member Mónica García’s proposal to phase out funding for the L.A. School Police over the course of four years was voted down 2-6. Her resolution was the most closely aligned to the demands of advocates. The Board is still considering other plans for reform, including the idea of creating a task force to review current police practices.
The campaign to dissolve the Los Angeles School Police has come in the wake of nationwide demonstrations protesting excessive police force after the murder of George Flyod by Minneapolis police officers. LAUSD is unique in that it operates its own police department, compared to many other school districts around the country that contract with local police departments and law enforcement agencies. Advocates argue that police presence on school campuses are harmful to the learning experience, especially for Black students, and that the money spent on school policing should be more focused on other education programs. But supporters for the school police assert that officers are trained to de-escalate conflicts and generally have good relationships with students.
Today on AirTalk, we take a closer look at what the future for the L.A. School Police could be. Should police officers be present at LAUSD schools? If you’re a parent of an LAUSD student, does the presence of police on campus affect your child’s learning experience? What should the Board consider when approaching the reforms to their police force? Let us know what you think by calling us at 966-893-5722.
For more on the discussion about police in LAUSD schools, click here.
Guests:
Carla Javier, KPCC/LAist reporter who has been following the story; she tweets
Jackie Goldberg, vice president of the LAUSD Board representing Board District 5; she tweets
Monica Garcia, LAUSD Board member representing Board District 2; she tweets