School Board Charge | Status Updates | Working Group | Timeline
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APS & ACPD Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
The School and Law Enforcement Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been finalized and available for the community to read it. The purpose of the updated MOU is to redefine and reimagine the relationship between APS and ACPD. Following the decision to remove School Resource Officers (SROs) from all schools at the School Board Meeting on June 24, 2021, staff have been working with ACPD to update the MOU that was last updated in 2018. The goals of the MOU are as follows:
- Reduce student involvement in the criminal justice system by having student disciplinary issues handled within the school building by school administrators;
- Protect student rights afforded to them legally under all federal, state, and local laws;
- Formally detail the specific situations as referenced in the Code of Virginia when students are to be referred to law enforcement; and
- Control access to student information as mandated by FERPA.
Staff will receive professional learning based on the updated MOU and new materials for the community are available on the Know Your Rights webpage to ensure students know their constitutional rights when engaging with law enforcement.
View the School & Law Enforcement MOU
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.
The APS School Resource Officer (SRO) Work Group hosted a virtual community engagement session on Jan. 13, 2021, which was an opportunity for the community to provide feedback and recommendations going forward on the relationship between APS and the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD). To watch this event, visit Livestream.
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 |
Jan. 13, 2021 | |
Dec.9, 2020 | |
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 |
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 |
View the monthly SRO Work Group Meetings and recordings of previous meetings on Livestream.
Recommendations
June 24, 2021 – Superintendent’s Final Recommendations: Presentation
June 4, 2021 – Superintendent’s Recommendations: Report | Presentation
June 4, 2021 – SRO Work Group’s Recommendations: Report | Presentation
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
September 3, 2020 Presentation for School Board Work Session
September 3, 2020 School Board Work Session on Arlington Public Schools and School Resource Officers
APS and Arlington County Police Department — Memorandum of Understanding (May 16, 2018)