The Burlington (Vt.) School Board has approved the elimination of one of two in-school officer positions in the district and directed the remaining officer to be stationed at Burlington Police Department headquarters, rather than on school grounds.
VTDigger reports that beginning in the fall, that officer will visit schools only during scheduled events — such as trainings and active-shooter drills — and without weapons or uniforms, barring an emergency.
The changes emerged from a 20-page report by a district task force on the role of officers in schools. The report calls for use of restorative justice practices in schools and “rapid response intervention” teams to carry out such practices.
The report also found wide racial disparities in disciplinary action taken by school resource officers — in line with disparities seen in policing in Burlington and nationally.
Over a seven-year period, Black students made up between 30% and 60% of “juvenile arrests” by in-school officers, although Black students make up only about 16% of the student population.
