CPS confident in new student safety plan as school year nears

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A new safety policy was unanimously approved by the Chicago Board of Education on Thursday for the upcoming Chicago Public Schools school year.

Introducing the new framework built around three main pillars of holistic safety, CPS Chief of Safety and Security Jadine Chou told the Chicago Board of Education at their monthly meeting that the physical safety of students and staff is included in the district's more holistic approach.

“Of course we’re not going let the physical safety go, that’s a critical part of how we keep our school safe, but it’s not the only thing,” Chou said.

The safety chief said the new plan also focuses on incorporated emotional safety and relational trust and ends the use of school resource officers.

“By prioritizing and centering the voices of our students in everything we do when it comes to safety, plus, the community engagement ongoing with all of our stakeholders-our parents, community members, our staff members and administrators-, we believe this is how we’re going to keep schools safe.

District officials said the policy still requires each school to have at least one security officer onsite.

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