USVI Public Records

Document text

1 | P a g e TESTIMONY 1 BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE 2 DEVELOPMENT 3 36th LEGISLATURE OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 4 TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2025 5 THE PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING 6 Good day Honorable Senator Kurt Vialet, Chairman of the Committee 7 on Education and Workforce Development, members of the 36th 8 Legislature, legislative staff, distinguished guests in the chamber, 9 members of the media, and the viewing and listening audience. 10 I am Gleston McIntosh, Jr., Executive Director of the Peace Officer 11 Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.). I appreciate the opportunity 12 to provide testimony regarding BILL NO. 36-0049, an Act seeking to 13 establish a Bureau of School Security within the Department of 14 Education. 15 While I support efforts to enhance the safety and well-being of our 16 students and educators, I must respectfully express my concerns and 17 opposition to the creation of a new, separate Bureau of School Security 18 as proposed in this bill. 19 2 | P a g e Our community, like many others across the United States, faces 20 growing concerns over violence, mental health crises, and the readiness 21 of our schools to respond to emergencies. The creation of a dedicated 22 Bureau of School Security is a significant step forward, but its impact 23 depends on how effectively it is structured, supported, and aligned with 24 the mission of our schools. 25 Certified Peace Officers to fill required positions will be critical for the 26 success of the bureau. Data shows that approximately 58% of public 27 schools reported having at least one sworn Peace Officer commonly 28 known as a School Resource Officer or (SRO) present. 29 While the terms “SROs” and “Peace Officers” are often used 30 interchangeably, they can differ in scope and function. SROs are 31 typically assigned to specific schools and have roles that may include 32 mentoring, teaching, and building relationships with students, in 33 addition to providing security. In contrast, peace officers may be 34 assigned to multiple schools or have broader responsibilities within a 35 district. 36 It’s important to note that the presence of SROs and armed peace 37 officers in schools varies by state and district, influenced by factors such 38 as local policies, community needs, and funding availability. 39 3 | P a g e The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) regularly collects 40 and reports data on school safety and security practices. 41 Security Camera Usage in Public Schools 42 The percentage of public schools using security cameras to monitor 43 schools has increased significantly over time: 44 • 2017–2018: 83.5% 45 • 2019–2020: 91.1% 46 • 2021–2022: 92.6% 47 Trends in School Safety Measures 48 The increase in security measures, including the use of security 49 cameras, reflects a broader trend of heightened concern for school 50 safety. While these measures aim to enhance security, their 51 effectiveness in preventing incidents and their impact on the school 52 environment continue to be subjects of study and debate. 53 As of the 2021–2022 school year, approximately 44% of U.S. Public 54 Schools reported having an SRO present on campus. This figure 55 represents a slight decrease from 49% in 2019–2020 but is consistent 56 with pre-pandemic levels. 57 4 | P a g e Peace Officers who routinely carry firearms, 45% of public 58 schools reported having such officers on site in 2021–2022, down 59 from 51% in 2019–2020. 60 The presence of SROs differs based on a school’s size and location. For 61 example, 77% of schools with 1,000 or more students had an SRO, 62 compared to just 24% of schools with fewer than 300 students. 63 Threat Assessment Teams and Security Measures 64 During the 2019–2020 school year, about 64% of schools reported 65 having a threat assessment team in place, a formalized process to 66 identify and manage students who may pose a threat of targeted 67 violence. 68 Throughout the United States there are several schools that have an 69 established school security bureau or equivalent, but most are linked 70 with the local or state police departments. 71 • Texas 72 Following the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, Texas created the Office of 73 School Safety and Security within the Texas Education Agency. This 74 office coordinates statewide safety efforts, provides technical 75 5 | P a g e assistance to local districts, and works closely with law enforcement 76 agencies. 77 • Iowa 78 Iowa established the Governor’s School Safety Bureau to enhance 79 school security. The bureau focuses on providing resources, action 80 plans, and coordination with law enforcement to improve school safety 81 across the state. 82 • New Hampshire 83 New Hampshire’s School Safety and Facility Management Bureau, part 84 of the Department of Education, offers leadership and technical 85 assistance to schools for planning and financing school facilities, 86 including safety measures. 87 • New York 88 New York City Police Department School Safety Division: With 89 approximately 5,000 School Safety Agents and 200 police officers, this 90 division is one of the largest school-based law enforcement agencies in 91 the U.S. 92 93 94 6 | P a g e Concerns with the Proposed Bureau 95 Rather than solving existing issues, the proposed Bureau risks 96 introducing overlapping responsibilities and mission conflict between 97 education and law enforcement. 98 The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) already plays a vital role in 99 maintaining public safety, including within school settings. Building 100 upon and refining this existing framework would be more effective than 101 creating redundant structures. 102 Risk of Blurring Educational and Enforcement Roles 103 Schools must remain centers of learning, growth, and support not 104 enforcement zones. The introduction of a new, separate security 105 agency embedded within the Department of Education risks blurring 106 the lines between safety and policing, potentially criminalizing student 107 behavior that should be addressed through educational and counseling 108 channels. 109 We have seen across the nation that when security functions are not 110 clearly defined from educational goals, it can lead to unintended 111 consequences including, increased suspensions, disproportionate 112 discipline of minority and special needs students, and erosion of trust 113 between students and school personnel. 114 7 | P a g e Resource Constraints and Sustainability 115 The creation of a new agency demands substantial financial and human 116 resources, resources being peace officers that the territory already 117 struggles to provide across sectors, especially VIPD. Rather than divert 118 funding to launch a new bureau, those limited funds should be directed 119 to: 120 • Hiring additional counselors and mental health professionals, 121 • Investing in training as proposed in this bill and retention of 122 existing SROs, and 123 • Strengthening coordination between VIPD and the Department of 124 Education. 125 Alternatives to a New Bureau 126 Rather than creating an entirely new law enforcement department 127 within the department of education, DOE should: 128 • Enhance the SRO program, ensuring that officers are 129 appropriately trained in trauma informed practices and cultural 130 sensitivity. 131 • Develop territory-wide protocols for school safety and emergency 132 response under the guidance of existing agency policies. 133 8 | P a g e • Provide additional support and funding to POST for the training 134 and certification of officers stationed in schools. 135 136 Conclusion 137 Establishing a separate Bureau of School Security within the 138 Department of Education is not necessary currently. Instead, 139 strengthen existing structures, enhance training and coordination, and 140 ensure clear distinctions between educational and law enforcement 141 responsibilities. While student safety must remain a top priority, it is 142 equally important to protect the integrity of our schools as safe, 143 supportive learning environments. 144 I respectfully urge the committee to reconsider this bill and prioritize 145 sustainable, integrated, and community-informed approaches to school 146 safety. 147 Thank you, Honorable Chairman Kurt Vialet, bill sponsor Honorable 148 Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr., and members of the committee, for your 149 time and commitment. I am available to answer any questions you may 150 have. 151