Miami-Dade County School Board Approved Board item Proffered by Vice-Chair Dr. Steve Gallon III Calling for the Adoption and Implementation of Water Safety Curriculum and Instruction
CONTACT: Pavi’Elle Phillips
305-995-1334
district1@dadeschools.net
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF DR. STEVE GALLON III
November 21, 2019
At the School Board meeting of November 20, 2019, Board Agenda Item H-12, Water Safety Curriculum & Instruction proffered by Vice-Chair Dr. Steve Gallon III was adopted and unanimously approved by the Board. Numerous speakers, including students, medical and water safety professionals, community partners, State Senator Jason Pizzo, and even parents who tragically lost their own children to drowning, spoke in support of the item.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is committed to the education, health, safety, and overall welfare of its students. In doing so, the District has consistently leveraged both its responsibility within its walls of learning and relationships throughout the community in ensuring student learning and equipping them with life-long critical thinking, decision-making, and life-long safety skills. Such learning and skill development have involved the provision of opportunities for students to not only learn to swim, but acquire critical life-long, and life-saving skills for water safety.
The Board has recognized the preventative benefits that education, information, training, and awareness have on teaching students how to swim and reducing drownings for children and youth in Miami-Dade County, and the value gained as they enter into adulthood and throughout the course of their lives.
“This issue is not simply about swimming lessons, but about equipping our children and youth with requisite water competency and safety skills that may ultimately save their lives,” said Dr. Gallon.
“I am grateful for the Board’s approval of this item that I proffered in the spirit of the countless children who have lost their lives through drownings. Its passing will prevent the loss of lives, especially among our very young children in the future,” Dr. Gallon stated.
To read the full item, Click the link below:
http://www.dadeschools.net/schoolboard/agenda/h12rev.pdf
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