In a tight vote on Tuesday, the residents of Lebanon have voted to defund the school district’s school resource officer (SRO).
According to WCAX, the non-binding warrant article passed by just five votes, 1011 yes to 1006 no. Kathy Beckett, an individual who gathered signatures to get the warrant on the ballot, says that too often students of color, and individuals with disabilities, are negatively impacted by a police officer in the hallways. She states, “I think it is important to look at how we actually interact with the community and who can best serve the needs of the community.”
Lebanon Deputy Police Chief Phil Roberts disagrees, commenting, “The benefits that it has brought the community, the students, the staff, as well as the PD here far outweigh any negatives that we are hearing.”
Some individuals who agree with the termination of the SRO position say that building relationships between counselors and students would be a better use of the district’s money.
An email from the district’s outgoing school board chair stated that the board will consider the community’s vote, but that a next step has yet to be determined. The district’s SRO has been on the job since 2006.
WNTK Local News 