Thank you to The News Journal for covering our SRO bill.
“Amid a slew of education bills introduced so far this session, one stood out.
Delaware House Rep. Bryan Shupe, a Milford Republican, brought a bill to the state House Education Committee on Jan. 22, that funds additional school resource officers and constables in public and charter schools across the First State.
For Shupe, the goals of this bill are “twofold”: to increase safety in Delaware schools and to initiate “positive relationship-building” between students and officers.
Other state House members felt differently.
Rep. DeShanna Neal, an Elsmere Democrat, said that while they understand the bill’s purpose, they also feel that school officers should not be the “end-all, be-all” solution.
Neal also feels that efforts should be directed toward developing a trauma-informed, culturally competent “multiple system treatment” for students.
Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, a Rehoboth Beach Democrat, said she was concerned about the cost of putting an officer in every school and how their presence may further lead to a “criminalization of childhood misbehavior.”
The motion to release the bill ultimately failed on the state House floor.
Despite this, Rep. Shupe said he “appreciated the debate” and remains hopeful that the bill will be allowed to return and lead to more discussion.