A city schools School Board meeting in March 2025 voted to bring back SROs, or Student Resource Officers, to the school community. SROs were originally removed from Charlottesville High School in 2020, with many school officials saying the presence of these officers were having negative impacts on students.
Dr. Royal Gurley, the superintendent of Charlottesville City Schools, held optional student meetings during Impact periods where he answered student questions and concerns regarding the return of these SROs. “Our educators are having to handle responsibilities out of their position requirements,” he says, adding, “There are situations that must be handled by police.” Representatives from the School Board also emphasized the dangers that come with a police officer not being in the building. “In critical situations, an officer is not already on site, and school staff face administrative burdens to call and brief officers when this assistance is needed.”
One big concern heard throughout the meetings was the fact that these officers would need to carry guns as part of their uniforms around the school. Many students had questions regarding how accessible these guns were to access. According to the Charlottesville City Schools website, officers will be using safety harnesses that are purposefully designed to prevent the accidental removal of the gun.
When asked if students had been informed enough about the arrival of SROs, senior Harrison Gaye had a few questions. “If they’re just police officers to keep the school safer then why would they need to train in youth mental health? Like are we supposed to be communicating with them or are they just there? I think these questions mainly go towards how much I haven’t been informed about SROs.” He argues that SROs may not be needed in the general school community, saying, “I generally like don’t feel unsafe in this school, the only way I mainly see it helping is with the teachers.”
The Student Resource Officers are set to arrive in the school by August of next year, but many students still feel wary about their appearance. What do you think?
