No Child Can Learn in Fear
Every parent knows it: a child who doesn’t feel safe cannot learn. A teacher who spends more time breaking up fights than teaching can’t deliver excellence. A classroom in chaos fails everyone in it — the kids who want to learn, the teachers who want to teach, and the parents who trust the school to protect their children.
In Brockton, discipline problems, fights, and even weapons in schools have become too common. Teachers are burning out. Parents are frustrated. Students who come ready to learn lose instructional time to disruption. And administrators too often answer with buzzwords and committees instead of real solutions.
It’s time for honesty: Brockton doesn’t have a learning problem until we solve the safety problem.
That’s why my second pillar is simple: Safe Schools, Safe Classrooms.
We will:
- Secure perimeters and facilities.
- Enforce consistent discipline policies.
- Back up teachers so they can teach without fear of disruption.
- Strengthen our school police department with resources, officers, and training.
Because without safety, nothing else matters.
The Reality in Brockton Schools
Discipline Eroded
Teachers report spending more time handling disruptions than delivering lessons. National surveys confirm this is a national crisis: nearly half of teachers say student misbehavior interferes with their ability to teach every single day【Brookings, 2023】.
School Violence Isn’t Abstract
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that in the 2021–22 school year, 80% of public schools experienced at least one violent incident【NCES, 2022】. Brockton has faced its share of fights, disturbances, and security scares. Each one rattles confidence in the system and eats away at valuable instructional time.
Parents See the Chaos
When parents hear about hallway fights, threats, or classmates bringing weapons, they lose confidence. When teachers feel abandoned, they quit. When students see that disruption carries no consequence, they stop taking school seriously.
Chaos and learning cannot coexist.
Brockton’s Unique Asset: A School Police Department
Unlike most districts in Massachusetts, Brockton operates its own school police department. Today, that force numbers just nine officers — covering more than 16,000 students across multiple campuses.
Nine officers cannot possibly provide the level of coverage, prevention, and relationship-building our students deserve.
That’s why I will fight to expand the Brockton School Police Department to 22–25 officers over time.
- This will not happen overnight. It will be phased in responsibly.
- It will be built using federal grants, state school safety programs, and local partnerships — not by overburdening local taxpayers.
- It will prioritize growth where the need is greatest: Brockton High, middle schools, and feeder schools with the highest incident rates.
This expansion will make Brockton’s school police one of the most capable and responsive in Massachusetts — a model for how to keep kids safe while preserving community trust.
Donate today to support safe schools in Brockton
What Safe Schools Look Like
1. Secure Perimeters and Facilities
- Single-point entry systems for all schools.
- Secure vestibules monitored by trained staff.
- Cameras covering entrances, hallways, stairwells, and other high-traffic areas.
- Regular drills for lockdowns, evacuations, and parent reunification.
Safety is not paranoia; it’s preparation. Parents should know their children are physically protected from the moment they step onto school grounds.
2. Consistent Discipline Policies
- A clear code of conduct published and communicated to all families.
- End favoritism and inconsistent enforcement. Discipline must be predictable, fair, and consistently applied.
- Consequences paired with restorative practices — not replacing them. Suspension and detention are not “dirty words.” They are necessary tools when used fairly.
Chaos cannot be tolerated. A safe classroom is the only environment where learning thrives.
3. Backing Teachers to Teach
Teachers are the mission-execution force of education. They cannot be left to fend for themselves when disruption escalates.
- Teachers will be supported — not undermined — when they enforce rules.
- Administrators will be accountable for providing backup instead of brushing problems aside.
- School police will be trained to respond quickly, firmly, and fairly.
No teacher should ever walk into a classroom wondering if they’ll have to fight chaos alone.
4. School Police as Partners, Not Just Enforcers
Expanding the force isn’t about arrests. It’s about prevention, presence, and partnership.
- Dedicated officers at every major school.
- Relationship-building: Officers who know students and staff, build trust, and defuse problems before they escalate.
- Training: Officers trained in adolescent development, de-escalation, and cultural competency.
- Collaboration: Strong coordination with Brockton Police, Fire, and local emergency services.
With 22–25 officers, Brockton can build a safety network that is proactive, visible, and effective.
Paying for Safety Without Overburdening Taxpayers
Some will ask: How do we afford more officers? The answer: with outside funding, not new burdens on families.
- Federal COPS Hiring Program (CHP): Provides grants to hire school resource officers【DOJ COPS】.
- Department of Justice STOP School Violence Program: Funds officer hiring, security technology, and training【DOJ STOP】.
- Massachusetts Safer Schools and Communities Initiative: State-level grants for security upgrades and police-school partnerships【Mass.gov】.
- Local partnerships: Hospitals, colleges, and nonprofits often co-fund safety improvements as part of community responsibility.
By leveraging grants and partnerships, Brockton can grow its school police force responsibly and sustainably.
Why Safety Leads to Excellence
The evidence is clear: safe schools are effective schools.
- Schools with positive climate and clear rules show higher achievement, lower absenteeism, and fewer dropouts【NCES, 2017】.
- Teachers in orderly environments stay longer and perform better.
- Students in well-disciplined classrooms gain months of additional learning per year compared to peers in chaotic settings【Brookings, 2018】.
Safe schools are not an “extra.” They are the prerequisite for learning.
Get your yard sign here and stand for safety
The Roadmap: Building Toward 22–25 Officers
Year 1:
- Hire 3–4 officers using federal COPS Hiring Program funding.
- Conduct a district-wide safety audit of all buildings.
- Publish and implement a clear code of conduct.
Year 2:
- Grow to 15–16 officers with additional state and federal grants.
- Ensure all major campuses (Brockton High, middle schools) have full-time coverage.
- Expand district-wide drills and implement unified parent communication systems for emergencies.
Year 3:
- Reach 22–25 officers, creating full coverage across the district.
- Formalize integration between Brockton School Police, Brockton PD, and emergency services.
- Begin publishing public safety metrics — incident data, response times, and outcomes — to keep parents fully informed.
Learning From Other Districts
- Boston: Operates a safety services division but relies heavily on city police. Brockton has an opportunity to build something better — a dedicated school force with accountability to parents.
- Worcester: Has expanded its school resource officer program with grant support, showing how phased growth works.
- National examples: Districts that invested in safety saw improved teacher retention, higher parent satisfaction, and lower dropout rates.
Brockton can learn from others and leap ahead.
Closing: Safe Schools, Safe Classrooms — Non-Negotiable
Brockton families send their children to school with trust. That trust is broken when kids face unsafe hallways, chaotic classrooms, or leaders who ignore discipline.
As your School Committee representative, I will fight to make Safe Schools, Safe Classrooms more than a slogan. We will secure facilities, enforce discipline, back up teachers, and expand Brockton’s unique school police department into a force worthy of our children’s futures.
This will take time, smart funding, and strong leadership. But it must be done. Because without safety, there is no learning. Without order, there is no excellence. And without honesty, there is no trust.
On Election Day, vote for safety. Vote for excellence. Vote to protect our kids and restore our classrooms.
Read my full safety plan for Brockton schools
Citations
- Brookings Institution. (2018, 2023). Research on student misbehavior and school discipline.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2017, 2022). Indicators of School Crime and Safety.
- U.S. Department of Justice. COPS Hiring Program. https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp
- U.S. Department of Justice. STOP School Violence Prevention Program. https://bja.ojp.gov/program/stop-school-violence/overview
- Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security. Safer Schools and Communities Initiative. https://www.mass.gov/service-details/safer-schools-and-communities-initiative
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