ST. PAUL – With 44 Democrat lawmakers declaring that they do not support a fix to law that has left dozens of schools without school resources officers (SROs), State Representative Peggy Scott (R-Andover) is urging those Democrats who remain undecided to join with Republicans in asking Governor Walz to call a special session and work together on a solution.
“We cannot risk the safety of our students and teachers,” said Scott. “Democrats passed this law without one Republican vote for this foolish and dangerous change. Anoka-Hennepin Schools were one of the first districts in the state to lose their SROs at Andover campuses. School safety should never be sacrificed for an extreme, anti-law enforcement agenda. It’s time Governor Walz calls the legislature back for a special session so we can correct this language and keep our students safe.”
The new law changes what SROs are allowed to do to de-escalate aggressive or violent situations, taking away tools they can use to keep students and teachers safe. In response, over 40 law enforcement agencies have pulled SROs from schools across Minnesota.
House and Senate Republicans are urging Governor Walz to call a special session to clarify the SRO language that is now in law. In response, 44 Democrat lawmakers stated they do not support a special session, preferring to leave the law alone.
Scott said political games should not be played with student and teacher safety, and urged Democrats to do the right thing and join Republicans in addressing law enforcement’s concerns with the new law and brining SROs back to the schools that have lost them.
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