Ensuring School Safety
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School should be a safe place for all students to learn. Students acquire new skills, create new relationships, and set goals for their futures in safe schools. Schools foster a secure environment that encourages parental involvement, adequate discipline policies, and the presence of safety personnel.
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The recent law signed by Governor Walz regarding limitations on restraints used by school resource officers, security personnel, and police officers has led to frustration statewide. Several police departments, including Blaine Police Department, Coon Rapids Police Department, Champlin Police Department, and Brooklyn Park Police Department have removed their school resource officers from all Anoka-Hennepin schools as of September 14, 2023. The Anoka-Hennepin School District will no longer have any school resource officers inside their schools this school year.
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Students, teachers, school staff, parents, families, school board members, and school districts in Minnesota have voiced concerns over this new law. Unless this law is repealed, school safety in Anoka-Hennepin schools will become inadequate. Student safety in our schools is paramount.
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What Steps Zach Arco Will Propose
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1. Reevaluate school safety policies and procedures to ensure that all teachers and staff have necessary training and protocols in the event of an unsafe situation.
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2. Support the use of first responders and safety personnel on school property to promote a safe learning environment.
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3. Communicate parental, teacher, and students concerns from the Anoka-Hennepin School District to the State of Minnesota regarding current laws affecting the presence of school resource officers in schools.
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Sources:
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https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-school-resource-officer-law-families-react/
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