Lincoln Board of Education gives report on Student Resource Officers

The Board of Education met on Tuesday to present data on SROs and Student Discipline

Lincoln, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln Board of Education held a work session on Tuesday to present their data on the annual School Resource Officer (SRO) and Student Discipline report. The report is part of the Safe and Successful Kids inter local agreement with the city.

The agreement funds six middle school resource officers, a threat-assessment officer, mental health support, therapist services and sustained funding for Lincoln’s 31 community learning centers.

“The data tells us that when an SRO becomes involved in an incident it’s for something like assault or vandalism, or largely something’s been stolen, something serious.” Lincoln Police officer Luke Bonkiewicz said.

Data also showed that when there are disciplinary issues or behavioral issues, they are being channeled through administrators.  Officers are not involved.

One-hundred percent of every referral or citation given to a student had an administrator involved in the process.

“All of those team members have the same type of training and same amount of training which is key,” LPS director of security Joe Wright said.

The report did find that calls for service increased at middle schools and decreased in high schools in 2019 and 2020. LPD says the increase was for things such as mental health investigations, assaults, and missing youth.

Board members say the response from parents and students has been positive regarding SRO presentations and interactions.