Return to Current Issue

An overflowing crowd of 350 students and parents packed into a school gym in late April to meet with Arnie Duncan, the new CEO of Chicago Public Schools to demand tightened security measures around public schools, including increased training for security guards.

(Above: Members of Chicago Youth United challenge Arnie Duncan, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, to increase training for security guards at a public meeting in April. Duncan agreed to many of the youth's demands, including creating a system for students to anonymously report their security concerns.)

The meeting was sponsored and run by Chicago Youth United, a coalition of Chicago organizations, including the Albany Park Neighborhood Council, The Blocks Together Youth Council and the Brighton Park Youth Council, who work together on a city-wide level to change policies and fight for more resources for young people across the city.

"Mr. Duncan, I have seen students get into my school with guns and the security guards do absolutely nothing to prevent this from happening," said Aaron Garcia. "As you see tonight, youth are united when it comes to our security, Mr. Duncan."

The meeting kicked off with a skit that delivered a scathing commentary on the performance of security guards in Chicago public schools and how their lack of qualifications jeopardize students' safety.

The youth leaders also visually displayed the disparity in job preparation between teachers and security guards. A 50-foot banner of qualifications for a CPS teacher was paraded before Duncan and the audience. They then held up a one-foot banner listing the qualifications needed for a security guard position.

"Mr. Duncan, this display is pretty telling of how security guards need to be better qualified and better trained to protect us at school," said 16-year-old Margie Rodriguez. "At some schools, guards are just 18 years old, which means that we can't tell who's a guard and who's a student, especially since many spend their time flirting with students, instead of doing their jobs."

Duncan did not immediately commit to working with the youth organization and the youth panelists continued to pressure him.

"Mr. Duncan, we know there is a training program for security guards but we wouldn't be here tonight if it was working. When you revise or start a new training program, youth must be involved, or it's never going to work, " said youth leader Kitty Page. "After all, we are the ones who witness first-hand all of the problems with security in our schools."

After more pressure from the audience and the youth panel, Duncan agreed to a future meeting with the coalition on a number of issues, including changing the minimum age for a security guard to 21 and creating a system for students to anonymously report security concerns.

"This meeting showed adults all over the city that youth can be a powerful part of the solution to crime in our schools," said Alvaro Saldana. "This is just the beginning. We won't stop fighting until all of the our ideas are in place and every school is a safe place to learn."