From: Scott Kincaid
To: Alvarez, Eddie; Stapp, Mark; MacDonald, Dianna; Fleming, Victoria; %[email protected]; Okrepkie, Jeff; Rogers, Natalie
Cc: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; Cregan, John; City Clerk; City Council Public Comments Subject: [EXTERNAL] City of Santa Rosa - Budget Study Sessions Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 11:56:56 AM
Attachments: City of Santa Rosa Budget Hearing Letter - SRO Funding Support 2024-2025(Kincaid).pdf Good Day All,
Please accept the attached letter for consideration in your upcoming 2024/2025 Budget Study Sessions. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Scott
Scott Kincaid
Owner | Project Manager
Facility Development Company
5329 Skylane Blvd.
Santa Rosa, CA. 95403
www.fdc-comp.com
[email protected]
707 523 1722 Ex. 3
707 523-1745 Direct
707 526 4980 Fax
707 495 7058 Cell
CL# 762651
“Commercial, Industrial, Residential & Design Build Construction Services”
This and any attached documents are for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or work product that may be exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication and any attachments is strictly prohibited, and you are hereby requested to delete this message and any attached documents, to destroy any printed copies, and to telephone or otherwise contact the sender immediately about the error.
May 1, 2024
Santa Rosa City Council
100 Santa Rosa Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Re: 2024/2025 Budget Study Sessions
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council,
We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource O/icers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate su/icient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource O/icer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education.
Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District sta/ will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues.
In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school(HS) students and 40% of middle school(MS) students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School” . The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%HS/51%MS in 2022 to 48%HS/45%MS in 2023 and again 44%HS/40%MS in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students in 2024, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be e/ective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area.
There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an e/ort to feel safe.
Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is o/ered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict. Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring.
It is extremely di/icult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource O/icer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term.
In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
Scott Kincaid
Santa Rosa, CA
Cc. City Manager
Chief of Police
City CFO
City Clerk
Public Comment
From: Amy Kincaid
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Amy Kincaid Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 4:57:45 PM
Attachments: 5904170524373040731.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Amy Kincaid
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Amy Kincaid
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Melissa Stewart
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Melissa Stewart Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 5:22:36 PM
Attachments: 5904185438996149742.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Melissa Stewart
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Melissa Stewart
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Sheila Walker
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Sheila Walker Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024 1:34:10 PM
Attachments: 5904912363446666981.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Sheila Walker
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Sheila Walker
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Nancy Calderon
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Nancy Calderon Date: Friday, May 3, 2024 10:57:39 AM
Attachments: 5905682423712933621.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Nancy Calderon
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95407
Friday, May 3, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Nancy Calderon
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95407
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Michael Martini
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Michael Martini Date: Friday, May 3, 2024 11:51:55 AM
Attachments: 5905715032526778277.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Michael Martini
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Friday, May 3, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Michael Martini
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Clayton ENGSTROM
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Clayton ENGSTROM Date: Friday, May 3, 2024 11:52:40 AM
Attachments: 5905715493235856190.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Clayton ENGSTROM
, Petaluma, ca. 94952, Petaluma, CA, 94952
Friday, May 3, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Clayton ENGSTROM
Email
Address
Petaluma, CA, 94952
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Marlene Soiland
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Marlene Soiland Date: Friday, May 3, 2024 12:03:04 PM
Attachments: 5905721656424806814.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Marlene Soiland
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
Friday, May 3, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Marlene Soiland
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Katherine Gage
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Katherine Gage Date: Friday, May 3, 2024 12:20:54 PM
Attachments: 5905732437215633142.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Katherine Gage
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Friday, May 3, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Katherine Gage
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Kaitlyn Badgley
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Kaitlyn Badgley Date: Friday, May 3, 2024 3:43:21 PM
Attachments: 5905853906728039742.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Kaitlyn Badgley
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Friday, May 3, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Kaitlyn Badgley
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Mick Menendez
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Mick Menendez Date: Friday, May 3, 2024 4:07:10 PM
Attachments: 5905868183314004501.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Mick Menendez
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Friday, May 3, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Mick Menendez
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Stephanie Taylor
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Stephanie Taylor Date: Friday, May 3, 2024 7:56:36 PM
Attachments: 5906005828429045067.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Stephanie Taylor
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Friday, May 3, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Stephanie Taylor
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Jeff Carniglia
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Jeff Carniglia Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 6:04:12 AM
Attachments: 5906370368217917708.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Jeff Carniglia
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Jeff Carniglia
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Ross Liscum
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Ross Liscum Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 10:36:55 AM
Attachments: 5906534041426956229.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Ross Liscum
, Santa Rosa, CA, 954057801
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Ross Liscum
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 954057801
Ross Liscum
Santa Rosa grand father
Respectfully,
From: Annette O’Kelley
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Annette O’Kelley Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 1:52:24 PM
Attachments: 5906651327215518963.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Annette O’Kelley
, Santa Rosa, Ca, 95403
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Annette O’Kelley
Email
Address .
Santa Rosa, Ca, 95403
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Janet Kracker
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Janet Kracker Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 3:48:03 PM
Attachments: 5906720728117103066.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Janet Kracker
, Santa Rosa , CA, 95404
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Janet Kracker
Email
Address
Santa Rosa , CA, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: teresa denniston
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - teresa denniston Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 5:36:11 PM
Attachments: 5906785595672140072.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
teresa denniston
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name teresa denniston
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peer Respectfully,
2 From: Danielle Shubin
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Danielle Shubin Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 5:56:58 PM
Attachments: 5906798066163190161.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Danielle Shubin
, Santa rosa , Ca, 95404
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Danielle Shubin
Email
Address
Santa rosa , Ca, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Judy Coffey
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Judy Coffey Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 6:46:13 PM
Attachments: 5906827581323135503.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Judy Coffey
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Judy Coffey
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Joseph Cholewa
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Joseph Cholewa Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 6:58:52 PM
Attachments: 5906835211672029467.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Joseph Cholewa
, SANTA ROSA, CA, 95403-7943
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Joseph Cholewa
Email
Address
SANTA ROSA, CA, 95403-7943
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Walter Doll
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Walter Doll Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 7:19:46 PM
Attachments: 5906847742421192097.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Walter Doll
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Walter Doll
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
We are alarmed at school violence in our community. Please support funding the effort to place resource officers in our schools
Respectfully,
2 From: Doug Van Dyke
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Doug Van Dyke Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 7:39:39 PM
Attachments: 5906859680375305793.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Doug Van Dyke
, SANTA ROSA, CA, 95404
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Doug Van Dyke
Email
Address
SANTA ROSA, CA, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Richard Denniston
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Richard Denniston Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 9:21:23 PM
Attachments: 5906920702989433501.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Richard Denniston
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Richard Denniston
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Jane Futrell
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Jane Futrell Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 4:27:52 AM
Attachments: 5907176515462473596.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Jane Futrell
., Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Jane Futrell
Email
Address .
Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Nathan Wong
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Nathan Wong Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 10:49:41 AM
Attachments: 5907405684701549852.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Nathan Wong
, Santa Rosa, California, 95403
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Nathan Wong
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, California, 95403
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Kim Cohee
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Kim Cohee
Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 11:04:34 AM
Attachments: 5907414603943122290.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Kim Cohee
., Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Kim Cohee
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Afton Woicicki
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Afton Woicicki Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 11:11:05 AM
Attachments: 5907418532088913548.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Afton Woicicki
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Afton Woicicki
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Serina Rasp
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Serina Rasp Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 11:54:38 AM
Attachments: 5907444688012976156.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Serina Rasp
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Serina Rasp
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Amy Bolten
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Amy Bolten
Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 1:55:52 PM
Attachments: 5907517377184887408.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Amy Bolten
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Amy Bolten
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Kathleen Lawson
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Kathleen Lawson Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 3:26:10 PM
Attachments: 5907571596158223890.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Kathleen Lawson
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Kathleen Lawson
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Linda Amador
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Linda Amador Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 7:40:54 PM
Attachments: 5907724391656683017.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Linda Amador
, Rohnert Park , Ca, 94928
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Linda Amador
Email
Address
Rohnert Park , Ca, 94928
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Jason Farnham
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Jason Farnham Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 8:58:32 AM
Attachments: 5908202978087632524.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Jason Farnham
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Jason Farnham
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Lisa Farnham
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Lisa Farnham Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:40:25 AM
Attachments: 5908228145301652381.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Lisa Farnham
, Santa Rosa , CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Lisa Farnham
Email
Address
Santa Rosa , CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Joann DeVries
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Joann DeVries Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 11:22:37 AM
Attachments: 5908289444223911251.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Joann DeVries
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Joann DeVries
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Frank Damante
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Frank Damante Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 11:54:56 AM
Attachments: 5908308838941092122.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Frank Damante
, Santa rosa, Ca, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Frank Damante
Email
Address
Santa rosa, Ca, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Gunnar Dean
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Gunnar Dean Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 11:55:53 AM
Attachments: 5908309389953680895.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Gunnar Dean
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Gunnar Dean
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Eliseo Gonzalez
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Eliseo Gonzalez Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 12:33:39 PM
Attachments: 5908332060337503311.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Eliseo Gonzalez
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Eliseo Gonzalez
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Tonni Caughey
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Tonni Caughey Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 12:51:08 PM
Attachments: 5908340947618304185.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Tonni Caughey
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95402
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Tonni Caughey
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95402
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Trevor Caughey
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Trevor Caughey Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 12:51:26 PM
Attachments: 5908342527612798133.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Trevor Caughey
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95402
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Trevor Caughey
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95402
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: howard Daulton
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - howard Daulton Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 12:57:24 PM
Attachments: 5908345443147300465.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
howard Daulton
, Santa Rosa , CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name howard Daulton
Email
Address
Santa Rosa , CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Patrick McDonald
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Patrick McDonald Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 1:44:12 PM
Attachments: 5908374379058607118.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Patrick McDonald
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Patrick McDonald
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Tony Alvernaz
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Tony Alvernaz Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 1:56:38 PM
Attachments: 5908381815612886163.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Tony Alvernaz
, Santa Rosa, Ca, 95404
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Tony Alvernaz
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, Ca, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Mike McDonald
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Mike McDonald Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 3:15:28 PM
Attachments: 5908429182917849425.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Mike McDonald
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Mike McDonald
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Brett DeVries
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Brett DeVries Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 3:54:28 PM
Attachments: 5908452554226721749.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Brett DeVries
, Santa Rosa, California, 95404
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Brett DeVries
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, California, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Justin Bowen
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Justin Bowen Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 4:00:56 PM
Attachments: 5908456397533219189.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Justin Bowen
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Justin Bowen
Email @gmail.com
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: Brian Ling
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Brian Ling
Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 4:26:48 PM
Attachments: 5908471920605841533.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Brian Ling
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Brian Ling
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2 From: David Harris
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - David Harris Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 4:49:51 PM
Attachments: 5908485762835318918.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
David Harris
, Santa Rosa , Ca, 95404
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name David Harris
Email
Address
Santa Rosa , Ca, 95404
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, We have an urgent Community Challenge regarding Public Safety within our Santa Rosa City School District, which demands a Community Solution. Public Safety is a basic necessity of the citizens of Santa Rosa and should always be at the Highest Priority within City Services delivered. It is imperative that School Resource Officers return to Santa Rosa City High Schools and Middle Schools. With Schools and the City facing budget challenges and tough decisions, you have the power to lead the way in making this a budget priority. A strong consideration would be to allocate sufficient funding in the 2024/2025 City of Santa Rosa budget to fully fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the initial amount of $2,100,000 and $1,700,000 for ongoing annual operations. For program continuity you could consider an ongoing annual commitment of funding for a minimum of five years. The highest priority of School District funding should be on Education. Even with the City of Santa Rosa taking on the full financial burden of the SRO program, the School and School District staff will participate in the SRO program and thus their funding is supporting the program’s success. The School District is currently funding Social and Emotion Learning Curriculum; Campus Supervisors; Therapists; Family Engagement Facilitators; Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports Intervention Counselors; and Restorative Specialists, all can be viewed as upstream investments, which over time should reduce City spending on societal behavioral issues. In addition, once funds are allocated and a program is in place, there are numerous opportunities for external funding sources by Endowment Programs, State Grants, Federal Grants, etc… to supplement future City spending. There must be leadership in bringing this critical need forward, and those leaders are you.
As a concerned community member, I have been following the current challenges our Santa Rosa City Schools face with ongoing violence and disruptions on campuses. While the talk within the community and media focuses on the incidents and the slow response of the Santa Rosa City School Board toward corrective action, I want to emphasize that the unintended consequences (negative impacts) of the circumstances run much wider. These unintended consequences impact the City of Santa Rosa as a Community and needs Council Action:
A recently released January 2024 Youth Truth Survey conducted on behalf, and at the request of, the Santa Rosa City School District reflected deeply troubling results regarding student perception of School Safety. A meager 44% of high school students and 40% of middle school students were able to provide a positive response to “I Feel Safe at School”. The survey also shows a declining trend year over year in this answer from 54%/51% in 2022 to 48%/45% in 2023 and again 44%/40% in 2024. The 2024 survey had a 79% response rate from students, so clearly a valid sampling. Parents are worried about their children’s safety at our schools. Anxiety is known to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Anxiety also impacts one’s ability to focus and be effective at work or in daily tasks. Stress and anxiety lead to higher rates of depression. Parents are making decisions as early as grade school to avoid their children’s future attendance at certain Middle and High Schools in Santa Rosa. This migration will not only impact the schools being avoided, but also the schools that will eventually take in these “displaced” students. It also negatively impacts those that have actual needs to attend a school outside of their area. There is a growing concern that students, teachers, and faculty begin to take protection into their own hands in an effort to feel safe.
1 Schools and receiving a quality education are one of the primary drivers of a sound economy and business environment. Businesses make decisions on where to locate based on the ability to hire employees and employees prioritize where to live based on schools and the quality education that is offered.
Schools are employers also. We know that budgets and teacher/faculty pay are in constant conflict.
Add in a chaotic unsafe work environment and schools will have increased struggles with hiring. It is extremely difficult to garner community support for schools if people do not believe the system is heading in the right direction and is operating without a sound plan to correct the course.
The list goes on and on. I firmly believe that we need School Resource Officer’s on our Middle and High school campuses. They can assist in getting the violent acts under control in the short term. In the long term they can be an active participant in a supportive school culture along with teachers, counselors, restorative specialists, campus supervisors, faculty, parents, coaches and peers.
Respectfully,
2