Having an armed trained officer on campus scares students? Looks like ppl cry no matter what.

Wow, we now have high school students telling the district and the police department how they should do their jobs so they can feel good. Just because there is a meeting by the district with what I assume is a small group of students that are demanding something doesn’t mean it will automatically happen. The district should do what is best for the entire student body at all times. What does the Asian Student Union think of this idea? After all, they are the largest demographic in our school district. There is not a police officer anywhere that would ever put their weapon anywhere other than on their hip when in uniform.

Since schools are gun free zones, they are soft targets for shooters and, as history has shown, shootings take place. So if there were a shooting at FHS, which I hope never happens, would the police allowed to bring their guns on campus at that time or not? Just imagine if an SRO was on campus and something bad took place. They'd have to run out to their car, get their gun, and run back in. I'd guess 5-10 students could be killed within that timeframe.

Also, "Someone could reach for the officer’s gun, and it could just be so bad.” - It's been a while since I was in high school, and maybe this is a problem that PUSD should address to the lack of teaching common sense and morals.

These crybaby kids need to grow up and know that there are bad people out there that want to do harm, and that they are an easy target. They should be thankful and grateful that the police are around to protect them. If they don't break the law, they have nothing to worry about, or if they do break the law and an officer says stop, just listen to the officer so they can assess the situation. Be home by 10pm. Bad things happen after 10pm.

I just wish some members of our society would stop playing the race card all the time.

@Former Ptown Resident - really?

When you say things like “If they don't break the law, they have nothing to worry about, or if they do break the law and an officer says stop, just listen to the officer so they can assess the situation” are you really oblivious to the numerous reported instances where unarmed Black citizens are shot and killed (some while sleeping) or are you intentionally choosing to be obtuse?

I actually prefer there are SRO's and that they are armed. Plus, I have to say, at my school the kids actually dig their SRO; no complaints at all.

To Jennifer P - I'm well aware for those few and far between cases that you cite. Do you realize more than twice as many whites are killed annually by the police than blacks? Those instances that occur to blacks make the media news, they get the clicks, the viewers, and the support from the vocal left wingers. Look at the data and don't always listen/trust the left wing media. While you look at the actual data, take a look at the crime committed by minorities; it's out of proportion from whites.

I'm also wondering if FHS or AVHS has a White Student Union, WSU? If not, would it be allowed?

What's it going to take for the minorities to move on? After the UK, the US was the second country in the world to outlaw slavery. The Civil War ended slavery. Since then, we've done everything to knock down racism. We were finally reaching that point and now the racist card has to be played at every instance, and many of those instances are from the Jussie Smollett of the world. Everyone is yelling that we need "diversity", which is just another word for "quotas". Over 3 million Blacks have immigrated to the US in the past 30 years. If the US was so racist, why did they move here? That's 9 times as many slaves that came to the US, who were sold by other Blacks. As I tell people, feel free to move to any country that you feel is more diverse and less racist than this Country. You'll move back.

While you're doing actual research, look up the "the party of slavery", "how many Union Whites died in the Civil War", "Black on Black Homicides", Police killings by race". If I were these BSU students, I'd be more concerned about their welfare from their own race than from the police.

Whether a WSU being permitted is an interesting question.

The Pleasanton Weekly reported in February 2022 that the student population is made up of 30% white and 50% asian. 1 % of the student population is black.

Clearly black students should continue to work as a group to focus on being treated fairly since they are grossly under represented in the community.

What about the white students?

Or how about the asian students that are clearly discriminated against is our society as shown in the cases against Harvard and UNC brought to the supreme court?

Maybe with the diversification of our state’s population, with there being no group having such a large majority as whites had in the past - at least in wealthy areas like Pleasanton - it’s time to start moving away from racial preferences for certain groups. To move to a society that truly treats all people equally and without racial bias.

Well that’s what the civil rights act of 1957, 1960 and 1964 was supposed to do. Non discrimination. Fun fact. The no vote consisted of 78% Democrats. The 74 day filibuster was led by southern democrats who overwhelmingly voted against it. The Democratic Party also founded the kkk. So we still have not learned that racial discrimination is racism and is wrong regardless Of the color. Now we see the left trying to continue to divide this country by race . Started with Obama continued with Biden.
Biden literally said he would not hire white people or men for the vp job. Looking for racism and sexism look no further than racist joe Biden. Remember he had a mentor and good friend who was a grand cyclops in the kkk. So yea let’s talk about racial discrimination and why no one on this thread or the pw “ journalists can write the story of how the pres racially discriminated in hiring. Said he would then did it. Let’s have an open debate about racial discrimination. Let’s start at the top with Biden and his ilk.

While I appreciate the students exercising their voices and sharing input, both the student body and the parents were surveyed last year and the results showed that everyone feels better having the SRO's on campus. I have seen firsthand the relationships they form with students and the care and attention they pour into our schools. We need more of these connections between youth and law enforcement not less!

@ Former PTown Resident

You beat me to the response. You covered everything I would have hit, so thank you.

I look at it this way: my kids are grown, and I still pay taxes for the schools. As a matter of fact, I’m going to be paying more taxes to the schools because of Measure I. So, I demand that Foothill have an armed SRO to protect the investment I am paying for.

This all started when the student services staff for the Pleasanton School District asked student groups, like the Black Student Union, for feedback, or their thoughts on what could be helpful for them. These young students, possibly some could be 15 years old, proceeded to ask why the officers were armed in school grounds, suggesting an alternative. They waited to hear back on their suggestion, but never heard from anyone, so the article claims. And that is their main gripe, that no one got back to them, not that their suggestion wasn't implemented. It would have been very helpful if someone would have explained to these students that officers always have to be armed. They could have asked an officer to meet with them, explaining the situation. That is all this is about, no need to hate on these young people trying to make their way through life.

It is unfortunate the BSU advisor(s) failed to adequately inform the students of how school district meetings work and the schedule, so the students could learn the process. Presumably, she was privy to the students' suggestion that SROs leave their weapons in their car in the parking lot of the high school. It would have been an opportunity for her to make them aware that a young Pleasanton woman was shot and killed by a federal officer's weapon which had been left in his locked car, the car broken into and the gun stolen. Law enforcement officers are not permitted to leave their weapons in cars for that very reason, and while a 15-year-old wouldn't be expected to know that, advisors are supposed to be on hand to advise. Such a comment by a student certainly should have raised a red flag and should have opened up a discussion of why MOUs are what they are and why SROs carry their sidearms.
Rather than forming a Black Student Union as a forum for students to voice concerns, why not skip the segregation and encourage ALL students to participate in a Foothill High Student Union. Representatives from the entire student body, assuring all ethnic groups have representation can come together in an inclusionary forum, with voices from all groups given equal attention. Each group can learn from the other, share visions, expectations, and gain greater understanding of one another by working with one another rather than as separate interests. Help them find their similarities instead of accenting their differences. Advisors need to actively advise, not just listen. PUSD needs to get on the same page and adopt greater communication measures to ensure all the cogs are running smoothly. It does truly take a village, and these young people are ripe for lunderstanding how to become responsible participants in that village. Other cities are not this city. These youngsters must learn to trust this as a place of safety and the police as persons who protect.