Board refers School Resource Officer policy to committee after students and unions request more input

The board delayed final action on Administrative Policy 4.09 (School Resource Officer program) and referred the proposal to the board's committee structure after public testimony and board discussion.

Administration framed the policy as an initial pass aligned to the existing intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Milwaukee Police Department; it said a later IGA renegotiation would enable further policy changes. A public speaker, John Fleissner, representing MTEA concerns, asked the board to table the item because students and Youth Empowered in the Struggle had not been given adequate notice to review the proposed policy. "When this was introduced, this room was filled with students. Nobody told us this was coming before the board tonight," Fleissner said, urging the board to delay action so students could weigh in.

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius acknowledged the outreach gap and said administration would put the draft in front of student groups and labor partners and that there was no rush to finalize the policy. Director Jackson moved to refer item 3 to its respective committee to allow for more engagement; Director Reza seconded. The motion carried on roll call with eight ayes.

Administration said it would seek additional engagement with the student advisory council, MTEA and other youth groups and would return the item after those conversations and parallel IGA negotiations with the city.