The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system is on the verge of a security transformation as it awaits approval to end the requirement for hiring only police as part-time security guards. According to the Chicago Tribune, the SEIU Local 73, representing CPS support personnel, is looking to change the landscape of school safety by waiving a contract stipulation that mandates the hiring of police. If approved, the move will widen the pool to include civilians in these roles ahead of the 2024-25 school year.
In a proposal that seems to be a response to community calls for school safety reform, the district's plan includes trading in police officers for strategies like hiring social work and restorative justice coordinators. The current five-year contract with the SEIU, which covers a variety of school-based workers, expired last June, and despite a substantial vacancy rate, no final agreement has been reached. Eric Bailey, a union spokesperson, told the Tribune, "By lifting this requirement, we believe CPS will be better able to fill part-time security roles and improve safety in our schools."
Meanwhile, defying doomsday forecasts, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) has maintained stable staffing levels during Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first 100 days in office. This comes after the president of Chicago’s largest police union previously forewarned of a mass exodus from the CPD if Johnson were elected. Against these predictions, the number of active officers remained virtually unchanged, with the CPD roster showing 11,720 officers on duty as of May 1, and 11,722 as of Aug. 1, as reported by WTTW News.
The mayor's office, while not directly engaging in contract negotiations, has expressed a commitment to student safety. "Mayor Johnson believes that all students deserve to feel safe and secure in their school communities," a spokesperson for the mayor told the Tribune. This vision dovetails with ongoing efforts to reform police practices and improve community relations in the wake of 2020's racial justice protests.
Amid the restructuring of school security and citywide law enforcement, Mayor Johnson also faces the challenge of crafting his first budget, where he will have the opportunity to implement his policy vision, potentially impacting the police budget and other city services. With the discourse on safety in schools and on city streets continuing unabated, Chicagoans will be closely monitoring the administration's moves in the coming months. A budget forecast is expected from the mayor's office on Sept. 13, outlining the fiscal game plan in greater detail.
