CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – A very sensitive issue to many community citizens, Charlottesville City Schools is announcing a public event next week to learn more and offer feedback about the School Resource Program beginning next fall. It’s called “Can I Talk to You Cville” Tuesday, August 26 from 5-to-7 p.m. at Trailblazer Elementary School at 406 14th Street NW. Students, staff, families, and community members are all invited.
The event is cosponsored by the Black Professional Network, Charlottesville Inclusive Media Project, Vinegar Hill Magazine, and the In My Humble Opinion radio show. Host Charles Lewis will moderate.
CCPS removed SROs from the schools in 2020 in the wake of police brutality protests after the George Floyd incident, as well as police conduct prior to that in Charlottesville in the summer of 2017 and 2018. The move to restore the officers has occurred in the wake events transpiring upon return to school after the pandemic and the violence at Charlottesville High School two years ago.
A city schools release notes “in March 2025, the Charlottesville City School Board voted to restore SROs to the Cville Schools safety model beginning in August 2026. In addition to maintaining all elements of the division’s current safety plan – including a robust mental wellness staff, plus Care & Safety Assistants – there will be specially selected and trained SROs.
After reviewing feedback from key stakeholders, including Charlottesville High School students, the CCS Superintendent’s Advisory Committee has developed a draft agreement with the Charlottesville Police Department. This agreement outlines roles, responsibilities, procedures, and shared values. It calls for two SROs based at Charlottesville High School, one based at Charlottesville Middle School, and an SRO supervisor to float among schools as needed.
Since the removal of SROs from the division’s safety model in 2020, there have been many successes, but there have also been challenges. The decision to return SROs to our schools in August 2026 has focused on four main “pain points” of our current model:
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Educators must handle responsibilities traditionally managed by police.
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Schools rely on available police officers instead of specially selected and trained officers who work onsite to build relationships with school staff, students, and families.
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School staff face administrative burdens to call, brief, and schedule police when assistance is needed.
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In critical situations, an officer is not already on site.
Register in-person or online to attend “Can I Talk to You Cville?”:
For more information, including an FAQ about the return of SROs to schools, visit https://charlottesvilleschools.org/sros.
