The board approved the decision with a 5-2 vote after extensive debate on the issue. 11:56 pm, Apr. 27, 2021 ×
The Rochester School Board approved a contract with the city s police department Tuesday night for the use of five school resource officers with the understanding that there will be changes to the relationship between the two entities before the start of the coming year.
The board approved the decision with a 5-2 vote after considerable discussion. Board members Cathy Nathan, Melissa Amundsen, Julie Workman, Jean Marvin and Karen MacLaughlin moved in favor of the contract. Board members Don Barlow and Jess Garcia voted against it.
There are five school resource officers used throughout the district. 11:03 pm, Apr. 20, 2021 ×
Whether police officers should have a permanent presence within the school system, and what that presence might look like, is under debate in Rochester.
The Rochester School Board and members of the Rochester Police Department discussed the topic for nearly three hours Tuesday night. The conversation also included input from school principals and cabinet members, all speaking to varying degrees about the importance and pitfalls the SRO program can have for the school community.
The conversation came just a little over an hour after a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Board Chairwoman Jean Marvin acknowledged that fact leading into the discussion.