MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES BOARD ITEM H-10 PARTNERSHIPS WITH MUNICIPALITIES & DEPLOYMENT OF SAFE SCHOOL OFFICERS PROFFERED BY DR. STEVE GALLON III
CONTACT: Pavi’Elle Phillips
305-995-1334
district1@dadeschools.net
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF DR. STEVE GALLON III
June 21, 2018
At the June 20, 2018 School Board Meeting, the Board unanimously approved Item H-10, calling for partnerships with Miami-Dade County’s municipalities to explore the deployment of police officers to support student safety and compliance with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (MSDHSPSA/SB 7026). The item was also co-sponsored by Chair Perla Tabares Hantman, Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, Maria Teresa Rojas, Ms. Lubby Navarro, and Dr. Lawrence Feldman.
The issue of school safety and security has been elevated because of the tragedy that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Senior High School on February 14, 2018. On March 9, 2018, Governor Rick Scott signed the MSDHSPSA into law providing a $400 million investment to keep students safe in school and enhance the provision of support to address mental health. One critical component is the provision of $162 million for safe-school officers and the requirement that a safe-school officer, who must be sworn law enforcement officers, be present at each school in the state.
This item directs the Superintendent to meet with the FOP to review and discuss the requirements of MSDHSPSA and receive feedback and recommendations regarding compliance. It also provides an update of the plan to establish partnerships with Miami-Dade County and local municipalities to ensure that each school has a safe-school officer pursuant to both the State funding allocation and requirements of MSDHS/SB 7026, inclusive of a cost benefit analysis at the School Board meeting of August 15, 2018.
