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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2018.07.19 - 23675/ 'PP/Poi MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #18274 IAA/ JAI BY: Commissioner David E.S. Bowman, District #10 / IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION TO PRIORITIZE AND ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN MICHIGAN SCHOOLS To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS violence at our nation's schools pose a clear risk to the safety of our children, teachers and administrators, this violence at our schools is leaving students and teachers feeling vulnerable in a place where they should feel secure with the ability to focus on learning, growing, and enjoying life; and WHEREAS the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, utilizing data from the Gun Violence Archive, identified 558-gun incidents that had occurred in schools the first seven and a half months of the 2016-2017 school year; and WHEREAS the research by the Washington Post suggests more than 187,000 students have been exposed to gun violence at school since Columbine in 1999; and WHEREAS the data from the National Conference of State Legislatures indicates more than 100 legislative bills to address school safety have been introduced in 27 states since the Parkland, Florida high school shooting, some of the legislation called for state police or sheriff's departments to provide officers to patrol public schools; and WHEREAS the National Center for Education Statistics reports 43 percent of public schools reported the presence of one or more security guards, security personnel, school resource officers, or sworn law enforcement officers at their school at least once a week during the in the 2013-14 school year; and WHEREAS financial constraints are limiting the ability of school districts to provide proven violence prevention and intervention, such as school liaison law enforcement officers on campuses and the equipment to improve building security; and WHEREAS House Resolution 4909, STOP School Violence Act of 2018 (the Act), provides funding to support law enforcement coordination efforts, especially for the School Resource Officers stationed at the schools; and WHEREAS Governor Snyder, as part of Michigan's school safety initiatives, includes a directive for the Michigan Council on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) to create a tiered training for School Resources Officers; and WHEREAS the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) and the Michigan Association of School Administration (MASA) have joined law enforcement groups to support legislation to address and invest in school safety initiatives; and WHEREAS a key initiative of the partnership between schools and local law enforcement is to increase the number of School Resource Officers in schools throughout the local communities; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Sheriff's Office supports legislation to increase school safety measures and the investment in School Resource Officers for every community school; and WHEREAS when students develop positive relationships with law enforcement officials, as in School Resource Officers, it can aid in preventing dangerous situations; and WHEREAS School Resource Officers can help stop violence in schools, as they are the eyes and ears in the schools to protect students and staff; and WHEREAS a safe school environment is vital to the health and emotional well-being of students and school staff in every community school; and WHEREAS now, more than ever, Oakland County constituents are demanding leadership from elected leaders at all levels of government on the critical issue of preventing gun violence and ensuring the safety of our children. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby appeals to the Michigan legislature to enact legislation for the advancement and funding of school safety measures for all schools in every community in Oakland County and the State of Michigan. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners strongly recommends the Michigan legislature to prioritize the allocation of funds to fully finance the investment and placement of School Resource Officers in every school in Oakland County and throughout Michigan for the safety, security and well-being of our children and school staff. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward copies of this adopted resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan, the Lt. Governor of the State of Michigan, the Oakland County members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the members of the Oakland County delegation to the Michigan Legislature, the members of the Michigan House Judiciary Committee, the members of the Michigan State Board of Education, the Superintendent of the Michigan Department of Education, and the Superintendent to the Oakland Intermediate School District. Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. Commissi ner District* Z Commissioner District tr Commissioner Oct /1 k ccuL,Lb A Commissioner District 41‘o a JO}, st Commissioner 2 i1ct # f .Th 1,14,14 ey CdfamiSsioner District #0- 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 Resolution #18274 July 19, 2019 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.