HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2015.04.23 - 21808Commissioner Gary McGillivray
District #20
1411,14,Cet
Commissioner Marcia Ger
District #13
CoTfmissioner
Dislrict #
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #15111
BY: Commissioner Bill Dwyer, District #14; Commissioner Marcia Gershenson, District #13;
Commissioner Gary McGillivray, District #20; Commissioner Janet Jackson, District #21
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – SUPPORT FOR INCREASED STATE FUNDING FOR
SCHOOL SAFETY GRANTS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS 94 school shootings occurred in 33 states across the country in the period between
December 2012 and December 2014; and
WHEREAS 53% percent of the shootings took place at K-12 schools and 47% took place on college or
university campuses; and
WHEREAS in 35 shootings— more than a third of all incidents — at least one person was shot after an
argument or confrontation escalated and a gun was on hand; and
WHEREAS despite increased awareness of the critical need for enhanced security on school campuses,
a February 2, 2014 analysis found that "there's been no real reduction in the number of U.S. school
shootings"; and
WHEREAS enhanced law enforcement and security measures on school campuses have been a proven
method of increasing the safety of students and providing a healthy environment for learning; and
WHEREAS the Michigan State Police launched the School Safety Grant program in 2014 to assist local
school districts and law enforcement agencies with the purchase of equipment and/or technology which
will improve the safety and security of school buildings, students, and school staff; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Sheriff, Oakland Schools and Pontiac Schools are working
collaboratively to implement policies and purchase technology for the school facilities in Pontiac as a
result of a 2014 School Safety Grant award; and
WHEREAS the FY 2013-14 funding of $4,500,000 of the School Safety Grant program in 2014 was a
positive first step but the need for resources to enhance school security will require significantly more
resources; and
WHEREAS the Governor's proposed FY2014-15 budget proposes a $500,000 reduction in the School
Safety Grant program; and
WHEREAS in testimony before the Public Services Committee in 2013, Superintendents, representing
diverse areas of Oakland County, indicated budget constraints and decreasing revenues have placed
many school districts in a position where they are not able to increase investments in school security on
campus; and
WHEREAS increased funding of the School Safety Grant program would be a wise investment in the
promotion of safe learning environments and the prevention of further tragedies.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages
members of the State Legislature and Governor to appropriate additional funds to the School Safety
Grant program in the FY 2014-15 State Budget.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of this adopted resolution to Governor Rick Snyder, the Oakland County delegation to the
Michigan Legislature, the Oakland County Superintendents of Schools, the Michigan Association of
Counties; and the Oakland County legislative lobbyists.
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
L-77
Commissioner Bill Dwyer
District #14
MAO
Commissioner
District # I
Comfnissioner
( District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Resolution #15111 April 23, 2015
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Public Services Committee. There were no objections.