Some activist groups say a new dedicated police department in the Round Rock school district might be an unfair burden on non-white students. Misha Farrar is a parent in the district and she’s among the many who tell CBS Austin she wants a say in the matter.
Data produced at a meeting this week shows more than 50-percent of police referrals are handed out to non-white students. The district says a police department is needed because of huge gaps in coverage on many of its campuses.
If the school board votes yes on this plan, the next step would then be putting a police chief in place between November and January, and then having the first officers ready to go by fall of next year. Senior Chief of Schools Dr. Danny Pressley thinks it would be worth the investment. Pressley estimates the first year cost to the district would be a little over $1-million.
The district believes having its own police department is vital to ensuring the safety of every campus, but this plan is expected to face some pushback at tomorrow’s board meeting from activist groups fearful of unfair punishments aimed at minority students.
