Saturday, November 16, 2019

SRO Statistics for Richland 2

Are you interested in the School Resource Officer statistics for Richland 2 schools?

Today I was searching for more news about the threatened shooting at Ridge View High School that hit the local news on Wednesday, November 13, 2019. If you can find it, good luck. There seems to be nothing further in the new about that.

But what I did find was the Richland County Sheriff's Department's "2017-2018 SRO Program Arrest Report". The numbers at the end of the URL (080519) may indicate the date - August 5, 2019" - when the report was filed online by the Sheriff's Department.

This report includes information for all Richland County Schools, not just Richland 2.

As you read the report, keep in Andrew Pollock's book, Why Meadow Died.

The Youth Arbitration Program appears to be RCSD's answer to questions about the school-to-prison pipeline" that some people are all worried about.

I have a simple solution to doing away with such a pipeline. Teach kids not to do the crime. Then they won't have to be worried about doing the time.

Read about a deputy's "discretion" to "exercise every available diversionary option".

In the 2017-2018 school year RCSD deputies arrested 132 Richland 2 students.

One hundred thirty-two. 132. Only 132. How much did the State of South Carolina and Richland 2 spend per arrest? I don't have that answer, but RCSD and Richland 2 do.

At a recent school board meeting the Richland 2 put out cost figures per SRO. $130,000 per deputy PLUS about $55,000 in operating costs per deputy.

I'll venture a guess that not two dozen people in Richland 2 know about this report.

R2 Teachers - GOTCHA!

How many Richland 2 teachers and staff members became subject to Misconduct on October 29, 2019, when the School Board revised Board Policy GBEB?

Teachers should be lined up ten deep at future Board meetings, until the Board further revises GBEB and removes the sledge hammer now being held over the heads of all employees.

Why? Because, when you show up on-time (ha! even early) for work and park on school district grounds, you will very likely be violating GBEB. You will most likely be in possession of a weapon.

What's a "weapon"?

The Board inserted this addition to GBEB on October 29, 2019, without discussion. ""(See policy JICI for items categorized as weapons.)" 

How does JICI define "weapon"? It is "any item capable of inflicting injury or harm to persons or property when that item is not used in relation to a normal school activity at a scheduled time for the student. No vehicles parked on school property may contain firearms..."

The Policy does not say that you have to use such item as a weapon. It says that possession of such an item is the underlying cause. What do you have, when you arrive at school? Keys? Metal fingernail file? Hair spray? Tire iron? Golf club? Ballpoint pen? Sharpened No. 2 pencil? (Fill in the blank) Any of these could be used as a weapon. Right?

And you'd better leave your firearm at home, even if you have a South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit. Because the Board stripped "unless otherwise authorized by law" from Policy GBEB.

Of course, you might try to defend yourself by saying, "But Policy JICI applies only to students." See how far that gets you.

Teachers, now is the time to wake up and dispute GBEB. Don't wait until one of you is caught up by it.