An Edmonton Public Schools program that sees police officers have a presence at its schools has mostly garnered praise from school and education staff after it returned to some schools last year. 

But not everyone is sold on the school resource officer (SRO) program’s efficacy.

This comes after an Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) meeting last week, where a report was presented to school board trustees tracking the phased implementation of the SRO program.

It surveyed staff, students and family on their impressions and experiences with officers as the program was reintroduced. Many respondents said they felt officers had a positive impact on safety in schools, according to the report. 

The review also said that respondents who were students generally “appreciated the approachable, friendly and visible presence of the SRO.”

So far, officers have returned to 13 schools across Edmonton, according to the report.

The EPSB says seven more schools are getting SROs this month.

Roxie Kruse, an 18-year-old student at McNally High School, said while she hasn’t interacted with her SRO much, she feels more safe now knowing he’s there.

“I think it’s really good implementing this because there are a lot of dangers,” she said. “Our school is very close to downtown. So, you know, might not be the safest of areas, but it’s good that we have that.”

Student Sai’jana Vassell said McNally High School’s SRO has provided help in more areas than one. 

“He’s actually helped me a lot with cyberbullying, online bullying and other stuff that’s been going around,” she said.

“He’s just been a lot more helpful in the past year than the school’s ever had.”

At a school board meeting last week, principals and school staff echoed some of that praise, saying the presence of officers has left teachers with more time to focus on their work.

Program previously fraught with criticism

In 2020, the program was suspended after it came under scrutiny. Some members of the public said they had concerns about the effects policing had on marginalized students. 

Since then, multiple studies commissioned by the EPSB have found mixed conclusions on the effect school policing had on those students. 

A study from 2023 recommended more research and data collection on the matter.

Omar Yaqub, the executive director of Edmonton social services organization IslamicFamily, said he agrees with the conclusions of that study.

“We’ve seen some data come from [the EPSB] about SROs and challenges within that area, some improvements, but [there] maybe some foundational cleavages that we have to address,” he said. 

“Are we creating solutions that work for everybody? How are we making sure that all voices are heard in developing the solutions?”

Yaqub said for the revamped program to work, he believes officers need to work on their relationships with marginalized communities and youth.

“As we have larger schools [and] more complex challenges, we have to be ensuring that we’re investing adequately in community-based preventative solutions, not just intervention justice solutions,” he said.

Edmonton Public Schools Supt. Ron Thompson confirmed at the board meeting that officers are receiving training on trauma-informed practices and are working with racialized students and groups.

The EPSB will conduct a second evaluation based on findings that result from the SRO program being implemented in the seven additional schools this month.