La Crosse superintendent calls for reduction of SRO program

La Crosse’s school superintendent calls for change in the SRO program which puts city police in school buildings. 

Aaron Engel says the system of school resource officers (SROs), which has operated almost 30 years, has led to fear among minority and disabled students.

“Our black students and their parents, and our students with disabilities and their parents, report more negative interactions with our SROs and frequently indicate that they (officers) make them feel unsafe at school,” said Engel, reporting to the school board on Monday night.

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“This should not be a process where we fiddle around, we continue to say ‘Phase in’ by 20-21,” Turner said.

The school board could vote on the suggestion at its second meeting in December.