School Board Terminates Contract With Madison PD’s School Resource Officers

There will no longer be police officers inside the four main high schools in Madison.  The Madison Metropolitan School Board voted unanimously Monday to terminate the district’s contract with the Madison Police Department for school resource officers.  Board member Ananda Mirilli said the action sends the message that “the bodies of black and brown students will no longer be criminalized.”  Police and supporters say S-R-Os have specific training that makes them better suited to dealing with issues that arise at schools.  Acting Police Chief Vic Wahl said in a statement that S-R-Os “have played an instrumental role in maintaining a safe learning environment” in the high schools.  Security plans for the district’s high schools have yet to be determined.  The board spends more than 370-thousand dollars a year on school resource officers.