A small group of parents and community leaders gathered outside the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) headquarters on Friday to voice their opposition to the reintroduction of police officers in schools. Their concern centered around Bill 33, known as the Supporting Children and Students Act, which mandates the reintegration of school resource officers (SRO) beginning in September next year.
Andrea Vasquez-Jimenez, director of Policing-Free Schools, a group advocating for the removal of police from educational settings nationwide and one of the rally’s organizers, criticized Bill 33 as an education policy that prioritizes law enforcement over student well-being and education funding. She argued that investing in policing does not enhance safety in educational environments, pointing to both research findings and student accounts.
In 2024, London discontinued its SRO program due to student apprehensions regarding surveillance and discomfort. Despite the low physical turnout at the rally, the event was live-streamed by Policing-Free Schools, with Xenia Osegueda among the attendees. Osegueda, a mother of a racialized son, expressed concerns about the impact of police presence on students, advocating for inclusive and secure school environments.
Rather than allocating resources to policing, Osegueda emphasized the importance of directing funds towards beneficial programs like counseling and support services for special needs students. While local police authorities in London and St. Thomas endorse the SRO programs for fostering positive police-youth engagement, critics argue against the potential risks associated with police presence in schools.
Protesters also condemned Education Minister Paul Calandra’s potential move to eliminate elected trustees from school boards, citing concerns about centralized power and reduced local decision-making authority. Lori-Ann Pizzolato and Marianne Larsen, TVDSB elected trustees, highlighted the threat to local democracy posed by such actions, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in educational governance.
The province had assumed control of TVDSB earlier in the year, appointing a supervisor to address financial mismanagement issues. Larsen attributed the financial challenges faced by Ontario’s school boards to chronic underfunding, calling attention to the $6.3 billion shortfall in education funding since 2018. In response, the province defended its education funding record, stating its commitment to directing resources where they are most needed, particularly in the classroom.
Bill 33, addressing SRO deployment, underwent its second reading in June, with the education minister hinting at potential trustee elimination from school boards by year-end. The ongoing debate underscores contrasting views on the role of policing and governance in educational settings.