The Seattle School Board has postponed its decision regarding the implementation of a pilot program for a “Student Enforcement Officer” (SEO) at Garfield High School, which was set for a final vote last week.
Interim Superintendent Fred Podesta and Garfield’s principal Tarance Hart are in favor of the program, which would see police collaboration with the Seattle Police Department (SPD) during the upcoming school year.
However, director Joe Mizrahi requested additional time for consideration, highlighting the need for an amendment to reconcile opposing views on police presence at the school.
Mizrahi did not disclose details about his proposed compromise.
Garfield High School previously had an SEO until the school board imposed a moratorium on police officers in schools in 2020, following George Floyd’s protests.
The moratorium aimed to replace police officers with alternative services and mentorship opportunities.
Concerns regarding police presence escalated, particularly with the requirement for on-duty officers to carry firearms, as mandated by the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) contract.
The upcoming vote on the SEO pilot’s implementation will not alter the moratorium but may allow decisions regarding police officers in schools to revert to the district superintendent.
Of the current board members, Liza Rankin, who supported the moratorium in 2020, noted significant community concerns about the implications of having armed officers in schools.
Mizrahi, appointed to the board in April 2024, expressed his commitment to finding common ground and addressing misconceptions surrounding the original moratorium.
He emphasized that the moratorium should not restrict interactions between police officers and school buildings to emergency situations only.
This ambiguity has led to confusion about police roles within school settings.
During the August meeting, some board members reacted against the initial suggestion to lift the moratorium to facilitate the Garfield pilot, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and community engagement before systemic changes.
Brandon Hersey, a board director, noted the importance of distinguishing specific safety protocols for Garfield without mandating sweeping changes across the entire district.
Rankin also pointed out an important distinction: the requirement for police visibility within schools when the main safety threats originate from outside.
Former Garfield student Rylan Springer supported Rankin’s perspective, suggesting that a resource officer be stationed outside the building, advocating for community control over the officer’s role.
One potential compromise is to designate a community resource officer instead of a sworn officer for the school, which does not require the officer to be armed while still keeping SPD’s presence.
Arron Murphy-Paine, father of Amarr Murphy-Paine, shot in Garfield’s parking lot in June 2024, expressed the need for community input in discussions about police presence within the school environment.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program remains a pressing concern, with SPS Accountability Officer Ted Howard indicating that a clear plan for measuring success has yet to be established.
The ambiguity surrounding metric collection could hinder understanding the impacts of the newly proposed safety measures alongside the SEO program.
The school district aims to introduce various new safety protocols for the year, including hiring additional safety personnel and upgrading security technology.
However, board members are worried that implementing multiple new safety systems all at once could confuse assessment efforts regarding which initiatives are truly effective.
Mizrahi queried whether the district had baseline data on incidents from the previous school year, reflecting on how last year’s reported numbers seemed unusually low due to a problematic reporting system.
With the ongoing evaluation concerns, Michelle Sarju, another school board director, insisted that independent researchers analyze the pilot program’s effectiveness to safeguard student interests carefully.
Sarju underscored the ultimate goal: providing emotional and physical safety for students, particularly those from communities disproportionately impacted by school policing.
As the school board moves ahead, Podesta expressed apprehension that delaying the SEO pilot might strain the relationship between the school district and SPD.
Recent communication between board members and district staff revealed delays attributed to both parties regarding the reintroduction of SEOs into Seattle schools.
Hersey highlighted a lack of proactive communication despite discussions on the SEO program taking place for some time.
An email from Kerry Keefe, SPD’s Director of Program Development, indicated frustration about the slow negotiation process between the district and SPD over the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which SPS had been reviewing since December 2024.
Principal Hart urged the school board to expedite the approval process to ensure sufficient time for a thorough pilot evaluation.
Additionally, there were discussions about the potential necessity of a special meeting before October 8 to finalize the board’s decision.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Student Union has undergone a campaign opposing police officers’ return to school districts.
Leo Falit-Baiamonte, a student from Nathan Hale High School, pointed out that the recently conducted poll indicating student support for police presence at Garfield had a low response rate, with only 32% participating.
Concerns were raised regarding the demographic representation of the respondents in the survey, as well as transparency surrounding the data collection.
A newsletter from Garfield’s Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) seemed to counter the Seattle Student Union’s perspective, asserting that their views aren’t necessarily reflective of the entire Garfield community.
Falit-Baiamonte reiterated that many students voiced concerns about the PTSA’s representation of their opinions, emphasizing the ongoing dialogues surrounding police presence at Garfield.
“Students at Garfield are actively working to draw attention to these pressing issues,” Falit-Baiamonte remarked.
With the school board’s vote on the proposed SEO pilot slated for October 8, crucial decisions lie ahead regarding school safety protocols and the role of police in school environments.
The upcoming ballot in November will also play a decisive role in determining funding for future safety initiatives following the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) levy.
The first year of the Garfield SEO pilot is financed by the City, and successful passage of the levy could enable its extension and potential expansion to other schools.
However, the evolving political landscape in the Seattle City Council may complicate discussions about allocating funds from the levy to SPD, with some members suggesting alternative investments in community safety measures rather than police funding.
Falit-Baiamonte expressed concern about appropriating funds from the FEPP levy to police initiatives, asserting that the funds should prioritize educational resources for underserved schools.
“The LEPP levy should focus on students’ potential and educational needs rather than funneling funds into policing,” he stated, signaling strong opposition against using tax revenue for police funding in schools.
As discussions continue, the Seattle Student Union remains vigilant and engaged in the evolving safety narrative within the district.
image source from：theurbanist
