The board, in a unanimous vote, agreed to phase out school resource officers.

On Thursday night, the Denver Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to remove school resource officers from the schools, ultimately ending the contract with the Denver Police Department.

The officers won't be removed all at once, however. DPS will cut down the number of school resource officers in middle and high schools by 25 percent before the end of 2020, then remove all officers from schools by June 2021.

Susana Cordova, DPS Superintendent, said in a statement:

“George Floyd’s death, and every tragic death of Black people at the hands of law enforcement, have brought to light how we as a district can respond and do more for our students of color. Ever since the issue of removing school resource officers was first raised, I emphasized how critical it is to hear from many different voices in the community. We heard from several stakeholders tonight, with pros and cons on both sides. It’s important to think about the full context here: strong safety resources on our campuses; trusting relationships with the adults in our schools; and the urgent and absolute need to end the school-to-prison pipeline. I believe the board has voted on this resolution with the best interest of students at heart.

There is absolutely nothing more important than all of our students feeling safe, cared for, and protected in our schools. An education does not happen without that. Our students need to trust the adults who are on our campuses with them. I appreciate the board’s forcefulness and tenacity in bringing this issue forward.”

Read the full resolution by the DPS Board of Education.

What do you think about the changes the Denver Public Schools Board of Education is making? Do you agree or disagree with their vote to remove school resource officers? Sound off in the comments below.