APS and School Resource Officers

School Board Charge | Status Updates | Working Group | Timeline | FAQs | Information Resources

Overview

APS is reviewing our school division’s relationship and operations with School Resource Officers (SROs), including the review and monitor of the APS Memorandum of Understanding with Arlington County Police Department (ACPD). In response to concerns expressed at the national and local levels, APS will gather community feedback, as well as recommendations from stakeholders to the School Board and Superintendent, on the future of this relationship.  A Work Group has been formed to work with APS staff in this process during the 2020-21 school year and a recommendation for monitoring will be presented to the School Board in June 2021.

NEW – The APS School Resource Officer (SRO) Work Group will host a virtual community engagement session on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. The session will be an opportunity for the community to provide feedback and recommendations going forward on the relationship between APS and the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD). Sign up to speak at the community engagement session by completing the Speaker Request Form. Watch the Virtual event live on Livestream the night of the event.

School Board Charge

The Arlington Public Schools and School Resource Officers Work Group is being created by the School Board and Superintendent to primarily address the community concerns expressed to the School Board and Superintendent regarding the relationship and the operations that Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) have with Arlington Public Schools (APS). The work of the Work Group will also serve to meet the requirement to review the memorandum of understanding with our local law enforcement and ensure opportunity for community input during the review per VA Code § 22.1-280.2:3.

View the full School Board Charge

Status Updates

DATE ACTIVITY
Dec.9, 2020

First meeting for Work Group and Youth Advisory Council
Dec. 3, 2020

Work Group membership presented at School Board meeting
Nov. 10, 2020 Work Group selection process begins
Oct. 9 – Nov. 10, 2020

Application period for Work Group
Oct. 9, 2020
Sept. 3, 2020

School Board Work Session on Arlington Public Schools and School Resource Officers

Video | Presentation

Working Group Composition and Members

APS has formed a Working Group with 48 members including APS students, parents, staff, advisory council representatives, community members, and Arlington County Police, which was presented to the School Board on Dec. 3, 2020. It will be facilitated by an external facilitator. APS has sought stakeholders who are themselves involved in multiple groups to ensure strong representation from a variety of perspectives within the Work Group. Participants will be expected to provide information and gain feedback from their various organizations. Additionally, APS has formed a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) to include all student applicants so current APS students have a strong voice in the Work Group. This separate but connected group provides a safe place for youth conversation and allows the group to inform the adult working group about the student perspective. All community members will be invited to share comments at a Public Hearing in January and can share comments and questions throughout this process with staff leading this review by writing to engage@apsva.us.

MEMBER NAME ROLE MEMBER NAME ROLE
Peter Anderson Teacher Heba Mahmoud Parent/Guardian
Uyanga Batsukh Parent/Guardian Michelle Marrero Teacher
Jennifer Bauer Parent/Guardian Elizabeth McHugh Parent/Guardian
Michelle Best Parent/Guardian Scott McKeown Administrator
Lauren Brice Community/Other Anita McLinton Parent/Guardian
Monique Brown-Bryant Parent/Guardian Kathleen McSweeney Community/Other
Tonya Chapman Community/Other Vladimir Olic Parent/Guardian
Mike Chick Parent/Guardian Lisa Pellegrino Teacher
Caitlin Davies Teacher Kolleena Perry Teacher
Katie Deal Parent/Guardian Aura Rojas Parent/Guardian
Melisa Esposti Parent/Guardian Maggie Slye Parent/Guardian
Elizabeth Fabrizio Parent/Guardian Sharon Solorzano Teacher
Catherine Han Administrator Ronda Stewart Parent/Guardian
Endia Holmes Community/Other Tauna Szymanski Parent/Guardian
Carolyn Jackson Administrator Gabriela Uro Community/Other
Daryl Johnson Administrator Ana Sofia Uro de Leon Community/Other
Sherrice Kerns Parent/Guardian Janeth Valenzuela Community/Other
Eleanor Lewis Teacher Symone Walker Parent/Guardian
Eric Lotke Community/Other Jenny York Teacher
Elaine Maag Parent/Guardian James Younger Community/Other

Timeline 

Date Activity
Sept. 3, 2020 School Board Work Session on APS and School Resource Officers
Sept. 24, 2020 Information Item at School Board meeting
Oct. 8, 2020 Action Item at School Board meeting
Oct. 9, 2020 Work Group applications open
Nov. 9, 2020 Deadline for Work Group application
Nov. 10, 2020 Work Group selection period commences
Dec. 3, 2020 Work Group presented to the School Board
Dec. 9, 2020 Work Group assembled
Jan. 13, 2021 SRO Work Group Community Engagement Session
Jan.- May 2021 Monthly meetings for Work Group
June 2021 Recommendation presented to the School Board

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I share my views and questions on the APS-School Resource Office relationship?

Community members can share their input with staff leading this process by writing to engage@apsva.us; also, a Public Hearing will be held in January 2021. 

Information Resources

School Board Charge

September 3, 2020 Presentation for School Board Work Session

September 3, 2020 School Board Work Session on Arlington Public Schools and School Resource Officers 

Presentation at January 23, 2020 School Board meeting — Update on student rights, discipline and the SRO MOU

APS and Arlington County Police Department — Memorandum of Understanding (May 16, 2018)

Know Your Rights: Interacting with Law Enforcement

Know Your Rights: Your Guide to Interacting with Law Enforcement Flyer

Conocer tus Derechos: Tu Guia para Interactuar con las Autoridades