PADM 628

APRIL 12 , 2013

AUGUST AXTELL, ANNALISA HOOD, JOY KEY & AMBER SAWYER

Understanding the Complexities of School Safety In Alaska:

A Financial Analysis of Proposed Legislation in HB55

The Current Climate of Gun Violence In Schools

“If there is even one step we can take to save another child, or another parent, or another town, from the grief that has visited Tucson, and Aurora, and Oak Creek, and Newtown, and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that -- then surely we have an obligation to try.”

President Barack Obama

Historical Overview of School Violence, Legislation and the Law

Legal Rights and Responsibilities of Students and Schools

In 1986, School District No. 403 v. Fraser, the United States Supreme Court acknowledged that in drafting student codes, school officials cannot possibly anticipate all misconduct (U.S. Supreme Court Media, 2013).

In 1997, Hill v. Safford Unified School District, a mother brought charges against a school districted and the teacher for negligence and wrongful death because the student was involved in a verbal confrontation with a gang member while at school.  

In 1995, Brum v. Town of Dartmouth, a violent altercation between two groups of youths resulted in the murder of a student on school property.  The student’s parent filed an action against the school district, the town and municipal officials, alleging various civil rights violations and negligence.

In 1997, Morse v. Lower Merion School District, a school district was not liable for the death of a teacher shot by a local resident who had entered the school building through an unlocked back entrance, according to the 3rd United States Circuit Court of Appeals.  

Federally Funded Programs

Program Name Total FY 2012 Funding Purpose and Description

State Homeland Security Program $294,000,000

SHSP supports the implementation of state Homeland Security Strategies to address the identified planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.  SHSP also provides funding to implement initiatives in the State Preparedness Report.   

Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)

$490,376,000

UASI program funds address the unique planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas, and assists them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.

Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) $46,600,000

OPSG funds are intended to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the United States’ borders along routes of ingress from international borders to include travel corridors in States bordering Mexico and Canada, as well as states and territories with international water borders.

(Source: FEMA, 2013)

• Alaska schoo l d i s t r i c t s do no t r e ce i ve any schoo l fund ing ded i ca t ed e xc lus i ve l y t o schoo l sa fe t y.   R a ther, t hey ge t “genera l ” s t a t e funds t o opera te t he i r s choo l s .  

• Each d i s t r i c t t hen c re a te s i t s un ique budge t . Por t i ons o f wh i ch wou ld suppor t e l ement s tha t con t r i bu t e t o schoo l sa fe t y.

• Th i s cou ld i nc lude soc i a l emot i ona l l ea rn ing p rograms , Pos i t i ve Behav io ra l Suppor t and In te rvent i on Programs , o r o t he r s im i l a r p rograms , s choo l sa fe t y r e source off i ce r s , s choo l sa fe t y hardware l i ke secur i t y cameras , s t aff t r a in ing on Cr i s i s Response Preparedness , e t c . . ) (SOA DEED, 2013 ) .

Funding School Safety In Alaska

House Bill 55: Alaska State Legislative Session 2013

"An Act allowing school districts and private schools to adopt a policy authorizing one or more permanent employees to possess one or more firearms on school grounds under certain conditions."

• TACTICS FOR MANAGING SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAMS

• FUNDING MECHANISMS FROM FEDERAL AND STATE RESOURCES

National School Safety Programs

National School Safety Programs

Increase in police officers assigned to schools18 States authorize firearms in schools by

authorized adultsNot all states authorize firearms on campusesSecurity Resource Officer (SRO) roles &

responsibilities Triad Method:

Law enforcement Counseling Education

National State Funding Issues and Grant Program History

Decrease in federal funding for school safety/security programs

National Grant Funding Programs ImpactedOffice of Community Oriented Policing Services

(COPS) COPS in Schools (CIS) –

funding for law enforcement agencies that allows: Police officers assigned to schools Grant funds salaries & benefits 3 year award

Obama’s plan could provide up to 1000 officers

Examples of State Programs and Funding Sources:

COPS CIS ProgramState fundingLocal fundingMatching fundsFunding through violation feesInnovation grantsCorporate Donations

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN THE ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT:

HTTP: / /WWW.YOURALASKALINK.COM/NEWS/APD-SCHOOL-RESOURCE-OFFICERS -SAY-COMMUNITY-INVOLVEMENT-PLAY-MAJOR-ROLE-IN-SCHOOL-SAFETY-184144891 .HTML

Prevention and Intervention:Effective Methods for Managing School

Safety

Current Alaska Education/Safety-based Programs in Selected K-12 Districts

Anchorage School District (ASD):18 SROs assigned to ASD primary/secondary

schoolsShare personnel expenses with APDASD provides:

Office space Computers Supplies

SROs assist in emergency planning/drills & are authorized to carry firearms

Current Alaska Education/Safety-based Programs in Selected K-12 Districts

Fairbanks North Star Borough District (FNSBD):2 SROs assigned to:

West Valley High School Lathrop High School

FNSBD pays 12 months following grant award $529,698 approved September 14, 2009

SROs trained in Gang Resistance Education Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program

SROs authorized to carry firearms on school grounds

Current Alaska Education/Safety-based Programs in Selected K-12 Districts

Juneau School District (JSD):Superintendent's office indicated no current

security personnel.Security matters addressed by school

principalsDirector of Administrative oversees Risk

Management and School Safety Director of Student Services addresses

Emergency Preparedness and Response, Anti Bullying, and the Tobacco Prevention Counselors & Grant

COPS Grant Awards – Alaska

Funding received - $3,740,246 Government State Police Tribal

Funding allocations spread throughout the entire state of Alaska – both urban & rural funding

31 SRO assignments funded through COPS in Alaska

Last awards issued in 2009

Sample Budget Proposal for Anchorage School District Safety (Not including SRO’s)

• LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY IN ALASKA

• AVAILABLE FUNDING IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, B OROUGHS, AND TRIBAL AREAS

• IMPLEMENTATION COSTS, TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

• CURRENT PROGRAMS – SUCH AS SRO’S AND OTHER SAFETY PROGRAMS

• FUNDING MECHANISMS AND REVENUE SOURCES AT A FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL

Important Considerations in the Policy Making Process

QUESTIONS?

COMMENTS?

Thank You!