David C. Turner III, assistant professor of social welfare, spoke to the San Fernando Valley Sun about the Police Free LAUSD Coalition, which calls for redirecting funds away from school police and toward expanded mental health and academic counseling programs. Turner is co-author of a report released by the coalition that includes a five-point plan to invest in the holistic well-being of all students. “We wanted to make sure that we were able to uplift the community’s voice and also uplift some alternatives to policing that people can adopt today,” Turner said. The new report reflects the LAUSD community’s wants and needs, including the position that policing in schools prevents people from feeling safe and puts the community in danger, he said. Reallocation of funds to support students of different races is a priority, as well as community development, holistic academic achievement and the well-being of students.