The controversial School Liaison Officer program was back up for debate at Vancouver city council Wednesday after a motion called for another review.
The motion was voted down, with the governing ABC Party saying one review is already underway.
ABC Party Coun. Peter Meiszner said he voted against starting what he sees as a redundant review.
“There is a need for a review, and a review is happening. So the Vancouver School Board has commissioned a third-party review into the SLO program,” said Meiszner.
The program, which deploys police officers to schools, was reinstated in 2023 after being eliminated in 2021 due to concerns from Indigenous and Black communities feeling unsafe in school.
The motion, brought by the Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee, called for a new independent review and said the current SLO program lacks adequate measures to ensure student safety and trust.
Committee Chair Steph Kallstrom says it’s “very disappointing.”
“On anti-racism and decolonization as well as trauma-informed care, and we have not received any proof that that has happened, and what specific training has been implemented,” Kallstrom explained.
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She says there’s currently no suitable or safe way for students to come forward with concerns about the School Liaison Officer program, raising questions about transparency and student safety.
“We want to make sure that these folks that are feeling left to the side have an outlet and an appropriate place within the schools to feel safe.”
Community advocates echoed her concerns. Sadie Kuehn, the former co-chair of the African Descent Advisory Committee, says she’s disappointed these issues persist.
“This mindset about who we are and how we behave really seemed to have infiltrated and affected how we are often treated,” said Kuehn.
While many parents feel the program is fine the way it is, the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council says it would have appreciated an additional review.
“Especially considering the new changes coming up and the reduction of the Safe and Caring Schools Department, which was supposed to provide proactive measures,” added Council Chair Melanie Cheng.
The Vancouver School Board says it will continue its internal review, which is expected to be released this fall.
