Frequently Asked Questions

School Resource Officers (SRO) are sworn law enforcement officers who are specially selected and trained to promote safety within schools. Unlike the largely adult populations served by patrol officers or road deputies, internal SROs predominately serve youth in schools. In recent years, more school districts have structurally brought safety and security resources into the school district organization for increased focus, control, and stability across school campuses. Atlanta Public Schools will hire and manage its own force of School Resources Officers in 2016.

APS wants student-centered, in-house SROs who are specially trained and are philosophically aligned with its social and emotional learning approach, and a national TRIAD model that involves law enforcement officers serving as informal counselors and educators. The district believes this approach will foster safe, orderly teaching and learning environments. APS currently contracts with the Atlanta Police Department and external law enforcement partners to keep its students, staff and schools safe.  The APD agreement will end in June 2016 .

Atlanta Public Schools sees many benefits of managing its own Police Department with in-house SROs in its schools. They include:

• Improve school safety and reduce school-based crime
• Diminish classroom time spent on discipline and behavioral disruptions
• Connect at-risk students to needed services, divert youth from juvenile court, and create safe, secure, and peaceful school environments.
• Increase feelings of safety among students, teachers, and administrators
• Improve relationships between law enforcement and youth

See the National Center Brief “School Resource Officers: Steps to effective school-based law enforcement” http://www.ncjfcj.org/sites/default/files/SRO%20Brief.pdf case for high-quality SRO Programs pg. 3. 

Atlanta Public Schools has made Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) a district priority. SEL is the ability to control your emotions and actions, develop good relationships, and make good decisions. The district is training teachers and other staff on these proven SEL approaches to address social behaviors and self-awareness among themselves and our students. As the district looks at improving the ways it can better educate and prepare students from this standpoint, it is appropriate to have an in-house Police Department that aligns with this priority while it provides security and protection for students and staff.

An executive director of Safety and Security provides oversight and accountability for the APS Office of Safety and Security. The new structure includes a Police Department managed by a chief of police with a command staff of six supervisors including two lieutenants, three sergeants and one school crossing guard supervisor. Three investigators will support the unit by investigating crimes that require extensive and thorough review. The Police Department will have 55 SROs who will be assigned to middle and high schools and fulltime substitute SROs who will be assigned to support clusters of elementary schools when they are not on assignment at other locations. Supervisors will also assist with additional assignments as needed and will be required to ensure the district has a consistent security presence in the schools.

Yes. According to Georgia state law, the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department (APS-PD) officers will have all the powers of any peace or police officer in the State of Georgia. Officers receive the same basic academy training as local, sworn police officers. Furthermore, the law provides that the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department is the primary agency responsible for policing property owned, leased, and operated or controlled by Atlanta Public Schools.

To better serve the APS community, the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department (APS-PD) will have a “concurrent jurisdiction agreement” with the Atlanta Police Department, which gives APS-PD officers the authority to enforce the law within the limits of the city of Atlanta. SROs’ primary jurisdiction is school property; however, as first responders, they have a responsibility to take action when necessary to restore order and can make arrests anywhere within the Atlanta city limits.

Yes. Currently Clayton County Public Schools, Fulton County Schools and Gwinnett County Public Schools have in-house police departments.

The new in-house Office of Safety and Security includes a Police Department, Emergency Management, and Security Operations and will launch in the 2016-2017 school year.

The new Office of Safety and Security’s Police Department will offer more efficient and effective internal operations and support resources to employees that will foster safe, orderly teaching and learning environments. The district is hiring individuals who philosophically align with the district’s social emotional learning approach, and a national TRIAD model that involves law enforcement officers serving as informal counselors and educators to accomplish this mission. SROs will have staffing assignments and focused training to achieve the district’s safety objectives.

APD will remain an integral partner in promoting safety and security for Atlanta Public Schools. In addition, we will continue to employ part-time off-duty officers, APD officers, and county sheriff deputies to provide coverage as needed for after-school events. 

The Police Chief/designee will assign a substitute officer to the school. 

Charter schools may contract with the district to hire full-time SROs as part of the APS buy-back program. The cost for a school resource officer is charged at the rate of pay commensurate with salary and benefits determined by the Atlanta Public Schools Human Resources Compensation Department. The APS Chief of Police supervises charter school-based SROs and they are governed by the same standard operating procedures as SROs assigned to other schools.

The charter school will work with the APS Chief of Police to recruit, hire, train, and assign a certified sworn part-time police officer to provide law enforcement services to the school community. The cost for services will be provided at an hourly rate of $30 per hour. The part-time SRO will assume the same duties and responsibilities as a full-time SRO with the exception of benefits and they will be limited to no more than 29 hours per week. These officers will be supervised under the leadership of the Chief of Police, and they are governed by the same standard operating procedures as SROs assigned to other schools.

The Office of Safety & Security will invoice the schools monthly for services.

The Chief of Police or designee will provide oversight for the charter school’s full- and part-time officer assignments.

Yes. Charter schools may choose to contract for part-time traffic officers. The charter school principal should make the request to the Police Chief/designee. An officer will be assigned at a rate of $30 per hour up to 29 hours per week. Schools will be invoiced monthly for these services through the buy-back program.

APS charter schools should align their safety and security services with the district’s charter school contract timeframe. This will ensure a full-time, dedicated SRO assignment as well as sustainable staffing and budget planning for the life of the charter school.

Examples

• A newly approved APS charter school, with a 5-year contract renewal period would commit to a full-time, dedicated SRO for five (5) years. 
• An existing APS charter school with three (3) years remaining in its charter contract would commit to a full-time, dedicated SRO for three (3) years.

To ensure sustainable staffing and budget planning, commitment to a full-time, dedicated SRO assigned to an APS charter school must match the number of years remaining in the full term/life of the school’s charter contract.

Examples:

• A newly approved APS charter school, with a 5-year contract renewal period would commit to a full-time, dedicated SRO for five (5) years. 
• An existing APS charter school with three (3) years remaining in its charter contract would commit to a full-time, dedicated SRO for three (3) years. 

Public safety and stadium security policies are reviewed each year as we look for ways to improve them. These proactive measures are meant to enhance safety inside the stadium and speed the security screening process for all fans to ensure an enjoyable experience as we strive for a safe and secure environment.

Yes. A clear bag policy is in alignment with best practices in various school districts and has also been adopted by numerous college stadiums, the NFL and other venues that host other entertainment events. The limitations on bag size and style is a further enhancement for safety.

The clear bag is easily and quickly searched and greatly reduces faulty bag searches. It also supports the Department of Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign.

This will enable us to move fans through our security check points much faster. A standard size bag eliminates the need for bag templates to check bag sizes. It will allow stadium staff to be more efficient and effective in checking bags that are brought into the stadium. Fans will also enjoy an improved sense of safety.

Each ticket holder can bring in one large clear bag, either a one gallon Ziploc-style bag or the 12” by 6″ by 12″ clear bag, plus a small clutch. The larger clear bag must be a standard 12″ by 6″ by 12″ bag made of clear PVC vinyl and is easily searched. The one-gallon Ziploc style bag is readily available, inexpensive and easily searched. The small clutch allows privacy for small personal items and is easily searched.

Yes. Binoculars, a phone or approved cameras can be carried into the stadium so long as it is not in its own bag. This is not a further restriction on items that fans have been able to bring into the stadium. It is only a restriction on the type of container used to carry approved items.

The following ARE PERMITTED:

• Bags that comply with the Bag Policy (see Bag Policy above)
• Binoculars shorter than 6 inches (case prohibited)
• Blankets
• Cameras with 3-inch lenses or shorter (no lights, tripods, selfie-sticks or monopods)
• Diapers and wipes may be carried in a permissible 12”x6”x12” clear bag (diaper bags are not permitted)
• Flags smaller than 2’ x 3’ (No Poles)
• Seat cushions. (Except those non-approved chair backs/seat cushions include large traditional seat cushions that have pockets, zippers, compartments, or covers)
• Strollers
• Sunscreen & hand-powered misters
• Umbrellas (no obstruction of other fans view)

The following ARE PROHIBITED:

• Aerosol cans
• Alcoholic beverages
• Backpacks
• Bags that violate the Bag Policy (see Bag Policy above)
• Cameras with lenses larger than 3-inches (lights, tripods, selfie-sticks and monopods are also prohibited)
• Cans, glass bottles or alcoholic beverages
• Drugs & Drug paraphernalia, marijuana & marijuana products
• Coolers (including soft-sided coolers)
• Water bottles
• Glow sticks, light-up costumes, light-up signs, battery packs
• Intoxication or signs of impairment related to alcohol or drugs
• Irresponsible drinking or behavior
• Klaxons, bullhorns, whistles or any other noisemakers
• Laptops and Laptop Bags
• Laser pointers of any type
• Offensive clothing
• Plastic bottles larger than 24 ounces
• Projectiles (footballs, Frisbees, etc.)
• Selfie Sticks
• Signs, banners or poles
• UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)
• Weapons of any kind (including silverware).

Yes. Soft, flexible seat cushions without pockets may be carried into the stadium. Large traditional seat cushions that have pockets, zippers, compartments or covers are not permitted. Seat cushions that have rigid frames are not permitted.

Fans carrying bags that do not comply with the Clear Bag Policy will be asked to transfer their belongings to an approved clear plastic bag before entering the venue. There will be clear plastic bags and a bag check available at the gate if needed but all visitors are encouraged to have their items in an approved clear plastic bag when they arrive.     

An exception will be made for bags containing medically necessary items after proper inspection at the point of entry.

No. Small clutch purses, with or without a handle or strap, are permitted along with either the 12″ by 6″ by 12″ clear tote bags or the one-gallon Ziploc-style bags. This should enable you to carry the same items that you have in previous visits.

Diapers may be carried in a permissible 12″x6″x12″ clear bag. Each member of a family, including children, will be allowed to carry an approved clear bag and a clutch purse into the stadium.

Fans with approved clear bags will have their bags checked at the gates. All fans will be asked to remove cell phones, cameras, sunglass cases and other large metal objects from their pockets.

Atlanta Public Schools is making every effort to ensure that this security enhancement doesn’t slow down the process of getting into the game.

Initially, as with any new process, fans may experience longer wait times.

We will have extra staff on duty to help facilitate the quickest entry possible. We encourage fans to arrive at the venue 30 minutes prior than normal to mitigate wait times.

Arrive early, know which items are prohibited and avoid bringing a bag, if at all possible. Gates open one hour prior to kickoff.

No. We are limiting only the type of bags carried into the venue, not items that you normally bring to a game. Therefore, you can carry items in your pockets or jacket (such as keys, makeup, feminine products, comb, phone, wallet, credit cards, etc.) if you choose not to put them in a clear bag or clutch. And you can carry a blanket over your arms, and binoculars and/or camera around your neck or in your hands without the case. You can use the clear bag and clutch to carry other items. You will continue to have the flexibility to bring a wide variety of approved items into the venue. Every member of your family may carry in one permissible bag.