Insights from Developing and Implementing a Novel School Community Collaborative Model to Promote School Safety

• In Event: The Importance of School Safety, Higher Education, and Data Analytics in Policing

Abstract

Background: School Resource Officer (SRO) programs do not reduce school violence and
increase school discipline. We describe the use of a culturally responsive framework to form a school community collaborative between students, parents, staff, administrators, and law enforcement to reform an SRO program, promote school safety, and reduce punitive measures.
Methods: Members of a participating school district (PSD), a local county, and a university in the Northwest collaborated. Adapting an identified culturally responsive model, a racially/ethnically diverse school community co-developed and implemented a School Community Collaborative (SCC) to address a school safety priority (SRO program reform). The main outcomes were SCC model development and implementation, policy change, and school community feedback.
Results: Sixteen community members participated in the 5-week SCC with students, staff, law enforcement, and parents. The SCC revised the district’s SRO memorandum of understanding (MOU) with law enforcement. All participants reported favorable feedback, and 89% reported the inclusion of diverse voices.
Conclusions: Co-development and implementation of an SCC process with schools was feasible. This work in WA state demonstrated a successful partnership between an academic institution, a local criminal justice public agency, and a school community to evaluate and revise a school district’s SRO program.

Authors

• Keith Hullenaar, University of Washington

• Chelsea Hicks, University of Washington

• Marcus Stubblefield, King County Executive Office