EXCLUSIVE: Worcester Public Schools New Police Officer Plan ‘Doesn’t Exist’

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Last week, Mayor Joe Petty, Superintendent Dr. Melinda Boone and City Manager Ed Augustus rolled out the new school safety plan for Worcester’s high schools and middle schools.

The plan is based on a “school resource officer model.” The models calls for three additional Worcester Police officers to the already existing four WPD liaisons currently in the schools. The three added officers will serve all eleven secondary schools for the upcoming school year

As of Monday evening, principals of Worcester’s secondary schools had still not received a plan on how they are supposed to implement the model in their schools from the superintendent’s office.

According to a source with knowledge of the new school policing plan, and who will be actively participating in the plan, the principals continue to wait because “the plan doesn’t exist.”

The source went on to tell GoLocalWorcester that the principals are growing increasingly frustrated as they wait for more details on this new plan.

There's No Plan Yet, But There Will Be

GoLocal requested a copy of Worcester's resource officer model from Worcester Public Schools (WPS) administration. That request could not be fulfilled because WPS is still researching resource officer models.

The superintendent’s office provided a link to the National Association of School Resource Officers(NASRO) and said that it was “one of the organizations WPS has researched for best practices.” Beyond the link, the superintendent’s office could not provide details of police officer responsibilities in the school or any other details regarding implementation of the school resource officer model beginning Wednesday.

"Having school safety liaisons supporting the schools is not new," WPS Communications Specialist Jen Roy told GoLocal. "Officers have always utilized a community policing model in our schools that focuses on building relationships and not just serving as a security force. School Resource Officers become part of the school culture along with supporting the prevention of violence in the schools."

According to Roy, Worcester's resource officer model will look very much like the model used by the NASRO and the model will be presented at an upcoming school committee meeting. The school committee meets again on September 3.

"So, the plan not only exists, it’s existed for years and has been used in our school system. With more research being done each year, WPS is keeping up to date with best practices and input from our principals and teachers," said Roy.

GoLocalWorcester’s request for information and comment went unreturned from the Mayor’s office.

The City Manager’s office told GoLocal to speak with the schools about school policies and procedures. The announcement of this new policy came from the Mayor’s office and was endorsed by the City Manager.

Police to Start on Wednesday

In the press release announcing the new safety plan, Dr. Boone said, “The safety and well being of WPS students has always been my number one priority every day, and this year is no exception. These resource officers will be extremely well trained to provide collaboration and support to our school administrative teams so our students can focus on learning. We welcome continued partnership with the Worcester Police Department to use a school-based safety model that is used by many districts throughout the country.”

Sources with the Worcester Police department have indicated that training of the resource officers is unlikely to take place - because there isn’t enough time before school starts. School starts on Wednesday.

In the same release, Mayor Petty said “We have always been proactive about the safety of our students and that is why, working with Dr. Boone and Manager Augustus, we will be increasing the number of school resource officers. These highly trained officers will foster relationships with students and faculty, continuing to ensure an environment where teachers can teach and students can learn.”

The plan calls for Burncoat High, Doherty High, North High, South High and Worcester Technical High School will continue to have an assigned full-time WPD School Resource Officer. Two additional full-time WPD officers will serve the remaining two grade 7-12 schools and the city's four middle schools.

Police officers will be at the schools beginning Wednesday.