I applaud the school board’s decision in voting down the proposed School Resource Officer 4-1. The concerns of approximately 80 percent of the 384 parents and 169 students that oppose an armed cop on campus were heard. Thank you to PUSD for sending out the survey for community feedback. The process of soliciting input from various stakeholders speaks to the strides being made to listen to different perspectives and engage in a healthy and respectful dialogue of how to best support our students.
It was apparent in the three hour school board meeting on February 27 that the community very much appreciates the Piedmont Police Department and law enforcement, but the overwhelming majority have an issue with an armed cop on campus. The issues of vaping, cyberbullying, anxiety, and substance abuse that our students face do not warrant policing, they deserve education, mental health and counseling services-the kind that require over 40 hours of training.