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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Police stationed at Oklahoma City elementary schools should act as mentors and role models, not intimidators, according to a top district official.
The Oklahoman reports (http://bit.ly/1G0xTSD ) that Teri Bell, executive director of student support services for Oklahoma City Public Schools, told school board members last week that city police officers are often used to scare or punish children rather than mentor them. Bell addressed the board as part of the district's revised code of conduct.
"This year, unfortunately, I believe our elementary schools have used them in a more punitive manner," Bell said. "We need to start promoting those mentorships, where kids have someone else in the building they can trust."
The school board on Wednesday approved a contract of about $2 million for security at the district's schools during the upcoming year. An officer is assigned to every high school and middle school, and eight officers rotate among the 55 elementary schools.
The district didn't assign police to elementary schools before the previous year. District officials thought staffing police at the schools would improve learning by relieving anxiety among students and teachers.
School administrators and city officials had said they hoped the officers would act as mentors and role models.
"Unfortunately, we had some of our buildings ask the police to handcuff our elementary kids and put them in the back of a police car," Bell said. "To scare them."
The code of conduct is part of the district's Safe and Civil Schools Plan, which officials said police will help implement.
"We want them to continue to be a positive role model and not someone who will scare them into correct behavior," district spokeswoman Tierney Tinnin said of the police.
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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com
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