Approve Greenfield school’s budget as is

Mayor Martin has proposed cutting the Greenfield school’s budget request. Again.

Staff and supplies cut as a result of last year’s budget cuts have not been restored, but somehow the mayor found $426,000 to increase the public safety budget, including money for additional armed police in the schools. This is clearly a reaction to the tragic Parkland, Fla., school shooting, but is a poor use of funds in a district that already has an armed school police officer.

While the loss of any child is one too many, Massachusetts has the toughest gun laws in the country, Greenfield’s schools are locked and the staff is well trained in lock-down drills.

Studies have shown that armed police in schools result in more arrests for minor disciplinary infractions, which also means that more children wind up in the criminal justice system. Studies also show that these officers tend to target children of color and children with disabilities.

There was a school resource officer at Parkland. He did not go into the building when the shooting started. Two other sheriff’s officers arrived. They did not enter the building, either. There have been armed resource officers at many of the schools where shootings have occurred.

While these tragedies are horrific, they are statistically rare. Our children are our future. Our resources are finite. Let’s fully fund the education our children deserve and approve the school superintendent’s proposed budget.

Suzanne Patnaude

Greenfield