April 25, 2024
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Springfield will not prohibit school resource officers on campus

Lawmaker abandons measure a day after introduction

By Tom Collins

Don't worry, folks. Nick Martin, resource officer at La Salle-Peru Township High School, isn't going anywhere. A suburban lawmaker introduced legislation Wednesday to keep police off school campuses unless an emergency arises. But after swift cries of opposition, bill sponsor Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Downers Grove) is dropping it. (Scott Anderson)

Springfield will not take the school resource officers out of Illinois schools.

State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Downers Grove, on Wednesday filed House Bill 29, which effectively would remove school resource officers from campus.

The measure would have barred police from school grounds “unless there exists an imminent threat of danger to students at the school in question or there is reason to believe that urgent and immediate action is necessary to prevent such danger to students.”

“This [legislation] reflects a complete and total disconnect that some legislators have regarding the importance of having school resource officers present in our school houses and the support we receive for supervision of large events.”

—  Steve Wrobleski, LaSalle-Peru Township High School Superintendent

But a day after the bill was introduced, Stava-Murray’s office issued a statement that the idea has been scrapped.

“Please note that she is no longer moving this piece of legislation forward,” her office said in an email.

Stava-Murray didn’t respond to a query about what she had hoped to achieve with the provision or why she dropped it. Judging from the swift reactions among local educators, however, one can reasonably conclude that she was besieged with calls in opposition.

Andrew Berlinski, principal at Princeton High School, is among those who emailed Stava-Murray to protest her proposal.

“At PHS, we are 100% against any bill that would limit our ability to provide a safe learning environment for our students. We believe we have a great working relationship with our local police agencies, especially the Princeton Police Department.”

“From a safety standpoint, in this day and age, it’s imperative to have a school resource officer,” said Matt Seaton, superintendent of Streator Township High School.

Steve Wrobleski, superintendent of LaSalle-Peru Township High School, also denounced the short-lived proposal.

Streator police officer Jordan Risley serves as the Resource Officer for Streator Elementary Schools. (The Times)

“This [legislation] reflects a complete and total disconnect that some legislators have regarding the importance of having school resource officers present in our school houses and the support we receive for supervision of large events,” Wrobleski said. “Our school resource officer serves a dual role at L-P – he provides a positive police role model for our students and enhances the safety of our school house.”

Jeff Prusator, superintendent of Mendota High School, said he had “huge concerns” with the proposal and had a message for Springfield: Hands off.

“I think this is one of those decisions that should be left to local control,” Prusator said, “letting each school board decide whether they want a school resource officer.”