Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent gives update on SRO issues

Superintendent Marie Feagins surrounded by SROs (Screenshot)

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins said during a Tuesday press conference that the district is currently working with school resource officers (SROs) and other security personnel to improve their job conditions moving forward.

The conference came after the school district amended its budget to give raises to SROs who issued a letter to the board earlier this month demanding higher salaries. The letter urged SROs not to report for duty and encouraged officers not to provide security at football jamborees that are usually scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights, which have led to violence in the past. Officials ultimately decided to fund salary increases for about 125 mobile security officer positions and eight sergeant positions and make starting salaries for most officers $25 an hour, among other measures.

“As I shared with officers, when I’m aware of something, we can make the adjustments and that’s what we’re proud to share that we’ve been doing and continue to do,” Feagins said during the press conference, where she was joined by several officers.

“Certainly, [regarding] the increase in compensation, officers have demonstrated and cheered and articulated that this is a great start.”

After avoiding an SRO strike, Feagins noted that the district established a Public Safety Council to address similar concerns moving forward. She said an important part of improving SRO’s work conditions is conversations with them about the issues they face, as well as listening to their suggestions about how to address them.

“I wanted to stand before you today alongside our Public Safety Council, which we’re excited to get started. These are representatives across the nine districts in Memphis-Shelby County schools who will serve to inform decisions,” she said.

“What do we want to see from our unified force? How do we want to move forward as a district as we listen to the voices of our students, of our faculty and staff, our families, certainly community leaders, and everyone who has a vested interest in Memphis Shelby County Schools? Those are a few ways that we’ll move forward.”

Feagins said that in addition to discussions about compensation, board officials and SROs with the council have been exploring the need to provide more mental health support for SROs.

She said officials are “thinking about risk management,” particularly for officers who have had to deal with “volatile situations.”

“I need them to know that we understand that they’re always necessary and always valuable each day,” she said.