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Are students safe?

4" a new proposal to get rid of resource officers in two eugene school districts is causing concern for many parents..

Thank you for joining us.

I'm chynna greene.

We are starting our team coverage on this very issue... kezi 9 news reporter kennedy dendy is live outside of eugene 4j to tell us how the community is feeling about the possible cutting of ties between the eugene police department and 4-j and bethel school districts.

Kennedy?

Chynna-- next wednesday- the 4-j school district has a*big decision to make: will they renew their contract with the eugene police department?

Across the city, this has brought about strong feelings about the role school resource officers play within the district.

Right now... there's an officer stationed at each 4j high school...plus one supervising sergeant... at a cost of about 488-thousand a year.

Now some are calling for the money to be invested in other areas of the district such as justice coordinators and behavorial support specialists.

One former 4j student i spoke to says that officers do*not need to be present daily in schools...because there are greater ways to use those funds and still provide for the support of students, staff and families.

"that money could go so far to funding counselors, to funding therapy, to funding support for the students because in reality when we talk about the health and the wellbeing and the protection and the safety of students, so much of that is mental health."

But not everyone feels this way, others shared with me cutting ties would be*detrimental.

I spoke with the eugene police chief today who explained how the goal is to move from a solely physical security model to essential youth services that are needed across the district such as fighting against internet crimes and investigating physical and sexual abuse cases.

The current contract expires at the end of june.

Change dot org petitions for both for those in favor of cutting ties and also those demanding they are kept have gained thousands of signatures.

Coming up in the five o clock hour, hear from one parent within the 4j school district about why she says these officers are essential and should not be taken way.

Live in eugene, kennedy dendy kezi 9 news.

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