BY IMANI HARRIS, Chalkbeat.org
A revolving door of security guards was creating an unstable environment in Detroit schools, prompting the district to make a big change in how it hires those tasked with ensuring the safety of schools.
The Detroit school board approved a plan to begin phasing out its previous contract with Securitas, a privately contracted security company, in last week’s meeting. The move will mark the first time in nearly a decade that the district will employ its own full-time security guards.
During the meeting, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said the plan should change school culture.
“It’s not about judging people individually, it’s looking at a holistic strategy or approach about how you provide security,” Vitti said.
He presented a plan to hire 91 full-time security guards for 39 schools next year. The full-time employees will receive $3 more an hour than Securitas guards. They also will receive benefits, a change that Vitti believes will attract and retain dedicated security guards. It is unclear when the full transition will be complete.
Full-time security guards will not report to Ralph Godbee, leader of the district’s police force. Instead, principals will now be responsible for the hiring and managing their school security. Vitti said that this will give school leaders a feeling of “ownership and empowerment” over their schools.
Although the guards will be trained by the Detroit Police Department, they won’t be armed or authorized to make arrests. The district’s culture and climate department will train the guards to work within its code of conduct.
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