The Los Angeles Unified School District on Tuesday approved a plan to cut $ 25 million from its policing budget and cut 133 school police officers with the intention of embezzling funds to support a proposed Black Student Performance Plan.
LA COUNTY LET FIRST SCHOOLS OPEN WITH A WAIVER OR SAFETY PLAN, EMPLOYEES SAY
A total of $ 36.5 million – which includes money diverted from funding school policing along with an additional $ 11.5 million from the general budget for the next school year – will be invested in initiatives to work for racial equality and hire “climate coaches” and other advisers to support tactics to reduce escalation in conflict, among other things.
Meanwhile, the plan reduced the police presence in schools to 211 police officers, Chief of Police Leslie Ramirez said at the school council meeting on Monday.
The move comes after months of debate and impetus for a coalition of student advocacy groups – including Black Lives Matter, Students Deserve and the Brothers, Sons, Selves Coalition – to disarm the police and support initiatives to support disadvantaged minority communities.
The move to #FundBlackFutures gained momentum last summer after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody after a policeman knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.
LA COUNTY FROM GASON CUTS TIES WITH THE GROUP, COMPLAINT TABLE IS WHITE, ASSOCIATION RIPS ‘ADVERTISING INVITATION’
“Student safety is everyone’s responsibility and starts with creating a school environment that is centered on students’ socio-emotional well-being,” said council president Kelly Gonez in a statement. “The Council’s investment in the Black Student Achievement Plan ensures that we are actively working to promote equality across the district.”
Although advocacy groups praised the actions taken to encourage black students’ academic success, not all members of the community were in agreement.
A district-commissioned survey revealed that students, parents and school staff believed that the police helped keep campuses safe, but numbers divided by racial demographics showed that black students and parents were less comfortable with the police in compared to Asian American, Latino or White students. according to the Los Angeles Times. In addition, nearly a quarter of the parents opposed redirecting policing funding to other initiatives.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
“Changing is essential. Investments and behaviors must be different if the results are to be different,” said adviser Mónica García in a statement. “Black students, parents, teachers and allies demanded that we stop plumbing from school to prison. We all have more work to do ”.
“School safety remains my priority and I look forward to an ongoing dialogue with my colleagues and the superintendent on how we continue to protect and support our students,” added Council member, Dr. George J. McKenna III.