Group protests school resource offers, zero tolerance policies at CPS Share Updated: 11:31 PM EDT May 24, 2021 WLWT Digital Staff Share Updated: 11:31 PM EDT May 24, 2021
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Show Transcript WLWT NEWS FIVE. ALL RIGHT, STEPHEN. THANK YOU BEFORE TONIGHT’S BOARD MEETING AT CPS A GROUP OF PROTESTERS CALLING FOR THE DISTRICT TO REMOVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THE GROUP. ALSO CALLING ON CPS TO REMOVE ZERO TOLERANCE POLICIES AND HIRE MORE MENTAL HEALTH STAFF PART OF THE PROTEST 100 LUNCH BOXES THAT WERE DROPPED RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE EDUCATION CENTER. THE GROUP SAYS IT SYMBOLIZES THE CPS STUDENTS WHO ENTER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER EACH YEAR, THEY BELIEVE REMOVING.
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The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education in December laid out plans to return to blended learning if the city remained below 40 new daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people. When the board voted last week to return Feb. 1, the city was averaging 66 new daily cases. Some teachers are frustrated with the new plan, saying staff weren t given the opportunity to provide input, and they re worried about contracting the virus. Kia Alexander teaches science at the School For Creative and Performing Arts. The county has, as we all know, recently moved into purple, Alexander said. It worries me that we likely won t be fully vaccinated, almost any of us, before we re teaching in-person again.
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According to data in the petition from the Civil Rights Data Collection, 63% of CPS students are Black, but Black students make up 85% of the referrals to police within schools. The Young Activists Coalition wants police and punitive discipline removed from schools and funding increased for counselors, psychologists and social workers.
Vice President Owen Derico said the school board hasn’t taken any measures when it comes to the issue at hand.
“We’re going to let them see what the community actually thinks and provide a way for the community to make their voices heard if they aren’t in a position where they can sign on to meetings and speak directly,” Derico said.