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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2016.03.30 - 22262MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION # 16078 iI BY: Commissioners Michael J. Gingell, Diptrict #1; D, avid Wgodward, District #19; Shelley Taub, District #12 Me& ri-LA 20 ac---K5r-r) i I IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — PARTNERSHIP WITH OAKLAND SCHOOLS FOR AN EXPANDED SAFE AND HEALTHY KIDS PROGRAM TO PREVENT SCHOOL BULLYING To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS emotionally secure and safe learning environments for children and adults contribute to a healthy and vibrant future for Oakland County; and WHEREAS bullying creates a climate of fear among students, inhibiting their ability to learn and contributing to other anti-social behaviors; and WHEREAS the U.S. Department of Education estimates that 160,000 students stay home every day due to bullying; and WHEREAS 1 in 4 children are bullied per month according to Department of Justice statistics; and WHEREAS as many as 1 in 10 children drop out of or change schools according to research conducted by the University Council for Educational Administration; and WHEREAS the Yale School of Medicine reports that there is now a strong connection between bullying, being bullied and suicide, with suicide continuing to be one of the leading causes of death for children under the age of 14; and WHEREAS according to recent statistics, revenge for bullying is one of the strongest motivations for school violence. Each month 282,000 students are reportedly attacked in high schools and 1 out of every 20 students has seen a student with a gun at school; and WHEREAS serious incidents in school districts throughout Oakland County have brought to light challenges facing local students; and WHEREAS the Board of Commissioners recognized the importance of tackling the issue of bullying by partnering with Oakland Schools in 2015 to provide expert training for local school administrators and teachers; and WHEREAS 1,030 educators and community stakeholders representing every school district in Oakland County participated in the 2015 training program; and WHEREAS an opportunity exists to build upon the success of the 2015 program by entering into a new partnership with Oakland Schools for an expanded program that will allow for greater participation and extensive training featuring a national renowned expert in the field social and emotional intelligence; and WHEREAS the new training program will help prevent aggressive behavior in schools by teaching students self-regulation, empathy, and other important social/emotional skills within a healthy environment; and WHEREAS continued investment in effective training to combat school bullying will assist in the transition from reactive strategies to proactive prevention in schools; and WHEREAS this partnership with the Oakland Schools would provide a meaningful investment in Oakland County's future by fostering safe learning environments for children; and WHEREAS early intervention and prevention is a wise investment that will reduce the overall cost to taxpayers in the long term by avoiding future expenses triggered by bullying incidents that lead to extensive mental health care and social support needs; and WHEREAS under the direction of Oakland Schools, non-profit organizations will be utilized as an effective partner to engage students directly, fostering a greater community conversation and awareness of the issue of bullying in schools. WHEREAS the estimated cost for the expanded Safe and Healthy Kids program is $70,000 with funding available in the General Fund Assigned Fund Balance titled Board of Commissioners Projects. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners authorizes the partnership with Oakland Schools for an expanded Safe and Healthy Kids program in the amount of $70,000 that will provide anti-bullying training for educators/school administrators and engage students and the community directly to promote awareness and understanding of how to combat bullying in schools. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Board of Commissioners authorizes the Chairman of the Board to execute a contract for this program, subject to review by the County Executive contract review process and approve expenditures for this project. Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution. Commissioner David Woodward District #19 Commissioner Shelley Taub District #12 Cornmissiox District # / 'COmpflissioner Ditct# Commissioner District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Resolution #16078 March 30, 2016 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Finance Committee. There were no objections.