What follows is the text of a letter we sent to the new MMSD Superintendent Joe Gothard during the first week of the fall semester (2024-2025). The group Long Haul Solidarity for Police-Free Schools - a diverse group of learners committed to deepening their understanding of safety in schools - penned this letter alongside some members of Families for Justice. We hope to hear back from Dr. Gothard soon and we invite you to read more about how this group is framing school safety.
Dear Dr. Gothard,
Welcome back to MMSD! We’re excited for your leadership and grateful for your dedication to this community.
We’re writing to you as a community that is committed to keeping our schools free from police presence. In 2020, after years of movement building and organizing led by the Freedom Inc Youth Squad, the MMSD school board made the momentous decision to remove police officers from the comprehensive high schools. Many of us were early supporters of that campaign, while others came to the issue later. Together, we have grown more steadfast in our commitment to supporting children’s well-being and safety in our schools without police.
Research and an abundance of lived experience has shown us that police are not the right personnel to support children and youth in our schools, nor do they keep children and youth safe. This is especially true for children of color, children who identify as LGBTQ+, and children with disabilities.
We know that you found ways to provide safety for students in St. Paul without police in the schools and hope that you will provide leadership in keeping Madison’s school police-free as well. We urge you to invest in the brilliance, safety, and well-being of the children and youth of this district in the following ways:
We know the district has prioritized restorative justice as an approach that can cultivate safe environments and respectful and trusting relationships in our schools; however, it has not been resourced at the level necessary to do this important work well. We want to see the restorative justice work in our district fully funded, with time for school staff to learn about and reflect on the transformative potential of restorative justice. This should start with the funding of two full-time RJ Coordinators at each comprehensive high school as outlined in the BOE Safety and Student Wellness Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations.
Support grassroots efforts at violence prevention and relationship building with youth such as the Moms on a Mission (MOMs) at East High School and Focused Interruption. These community members are dedicated to meeting youth needs, nurturing them, and keeping them safe without police intervention. Engage with these leaders and respect their expertise by seeking out their perspective and uplifting their work.
Accelerate the addition of pupil services staff. Based on allocations from the 22-23 school year MMSD had fewer than half the number of social workers, psychologists and counselors recommended by their respective professional organizations. MMSD would need to hire an additional 11 school social workers each year for the next five years to meet recommended levels for those professionals. The number included in the 24-25 budget was 4. According to the Dane County Youth Assessment two-thirds of students reporting depression and anxiety are not receiving mental health services. These students are not in a position to learn. We need to do better.
Invest in the leadership, wellness, and creativity of Black youth and youth of color. Give the most impacted youth, families, and trusted adults decision-making power. Engage with community leaders and organizations that have authentic, caring relationships with these communities.
Reject proposals from MPD to lead mental health and/or drug education programming in schools, especially when there are others in the community who have the expertise to address these pressing issues. Dane County Department of Human Services already funds nonprofit organizations in our community to provide evidence-based, upstream wellness and prevention programming aimed at reducing adolescent and young adult substance use. These organizations have existing relationships with educators who know their students best.
Trust the robust research that has shown that police in schools do not keep children safer. Research has shown that children’s criminalization and punishment in schools is exacerbated when police are present, especially for children of color and children with disabilities. In another qualitative study, police in schools tended to differentiate their role in relation to children of color and white children in ways that perpetuate racial disparities. Furthermore, police presence does not ensure children’s safety in the case of mass shootings.
As you begin your tenure as superintendent of MMSD, we hope you will truly center our children and youth and the educational experiences and spaces that they deserve. If you would be interested in talking about any of these points further, we’d be happy to have a conversation or connect you with people in the community.
Best wishes.
Interested in learning more about Long Haul Solidarity? Send an email to ffjdane@gmail.com.
Families for Justice is a network of people working to dismantle white supremacy in Dane County and beyond through multi-generational community organizing and direct action. Learn more here.