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: Max Bray
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Max Bray
Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 8:57:08 PM
Attachments: 5908632442474256237.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Max Bray
, Santa Rosa , CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Max Bray
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: Anurag Tiwari
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Anurag Tiwari Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 8:57:16 PM
Attachments: 5908633834819245901.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Anurag Tiwari
, Santa Rosa , Ca, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Anurag Tiwari
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: Yadira Contreras
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Yadira Contreras Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 8:57:23 PM
Attachments: 5908634073762263227.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Yadira Contreras
, SANTA ROSA, CA, 95403
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Yadira Contreras
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: Victoria Triola
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Victoria Triola Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:03:10 PM
Attachments: 5908636627171895007.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Victoria Triola
, SANTA ROSA, CA, 95405-7411
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Victoria Triola
Email
Address
SANTA ROSA, CA, 95405-7411
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 Bellone
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Lisa Bellone Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:03:11 PM
Attachments: 5908636499959060118.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Lisa Bellone
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Lisa Bellone
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: Wayne O’Connor
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Wayne O’Connor Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:03:13 PM
Attachments: 5908637318999006559.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Wayne O’Connor
, Santa Rosa, California, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Wayne O’Connor
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, California, 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: Debashish Mohapatra
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Debashish Mohapatra Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:03:16 PM
Attachments: 5908637219235507484.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Debashish Mohapatra
, Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Debashish Mohapatra
Email
Address , Santa Rosa
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: Eric Butterfield
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Eric Butterfield Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:03:16 PM
Attachments: 5908637310585415409.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Eric Butterfield
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Eric Butterfield
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: Ali Quattrocchi
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Ali Quattrocchi Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:03:16 PM
Attachments: 5908637427532156979.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Ali Quattrocchi
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Ali Quattrocchi
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: Julie Frost
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Julie Frost Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:06:13 PM
Attachments: 5908638860929857220.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Julie Frost
, Sanata Rosa , CA, 95404
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Julie Frost
Email
Address
Sanata 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: Erik Boehm
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Erik Boehm
Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:09:13 PM
Attachments: 5908640582444225493.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Erik Boehm
, Santa Rosa , CA, 95401
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Erik Boehm
Email
Address
Santa Rosa , CA, 95401
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: Shannon Palmer
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Shannon Palmer Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:09:14 PM
Attachments: 5908640844389000935.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Shannon Palmer
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Shannon Palmer
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: Amanda Hudson
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Amanda Hudson Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:09:16 PM
Attachments: 5908641266067319760.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Amanda Hudson
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Amanda Hudson
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: Betty Zootis
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Betty Zootis Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:12:09 PM
Attachments: 5908641656798448361.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Betty Zootis
, Santa Risa, CA, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Betty Zootis
Email
Address
Santa Risa, 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: John Rudell
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - John Rudell Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:15:12 PM
Attachments: 5908643584094728181.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
John Rudell
., Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name John Rudell
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: Kara Olhiser
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Kara Olhiser Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:15:15 PM
Attachments: 5908643872555707209.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Kara Olhiser
, Santa Rosa, CALIFORNIA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Kara Olhiser
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CALIFORNIA, 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: Laura Dahms
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Laura Dahms Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:24:11 PM
Attachments: 5908649990808970252.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Laura Dahms
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95495
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Laura Dahms
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95495
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 Williams
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Amy Williams Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:25:11 PM
Attachments: 5908651003703071312.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Amy Williams
, Santa Rosa, Ca, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Amy Williams
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: Heidi Lewis
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Heidi Lewis Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:27:10 PM
Attachments: 5908651600216696591.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Heidi Lewis
., Santa Rosa, CA, 95407
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Heidi Lewis
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95407
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, I am contacting you regarding the need for SROs on SRCS campuses. I am using the letter below because this is all information I agree with and the below information outlines all the important details.
However, I want to convey myself how disappointed I am in the Santa Rosa City Schools Board for disregarding the safety of your students and OUR children. I watched the Board meeting via Zoom when the decision was made to halt the SRO program, and it was very clear the Board members were putting their own feelings before the safety of our kids. It is now the ultimate “mission” of some of the Board members to do everything in their power to prevent the placement of SROs.
The job of SRCS is to keep our children safe. However, violence continues to skyrocket, and a child’s life was lost last year. You should be doing everything in your power to stop this. I’ve listened to numerous students plead with the Board – sometimes in tears – because they do not feel safe at school. These school years should be some of the best times in their lives, and they should not have to go to school in fear. I also should not have to send my student to school every day wondering if he will be safe. Every time I hear about a lockdown, I panic. The last time my student was on shelter in place he thought it was the same as a lockdown and he was texting me very nervous because he did not know what was going on.
I understand there are some students who do not feel comfortable with SROs on campus, but with the right program, I feel we can make everyone feel safe. It is wrong to deny SROs from the overwhelming number of students and parents who are begging for them. My student is a freshman this year and I want to know that he has the benefit of an SRO on campus.
-------
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 1 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.
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 Officers 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: Victor Ruiz
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Victor Ruiz Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:33:12 PM
Attachments: 5908654337311229645.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Victor Ruiz
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Victor Ruiz
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: Vanessa Ruiz
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Vanessa Ruiz Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:39:10 PM
Attachments: 5908658382373874210.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Vanessa Ruiz
Santa Rosa, Ca, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Vanessa Ruiz
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: Amanda Dalton
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Amanda Dalton Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:39:11 PM
Attachments: 5908658955577255038.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Amanda Dalton
Santa Rosa, CA, 95407
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Amanda Dalton
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: Carmi Woods
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Carmi Woods Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:39:13 PM
Attachments: 5908658982722968847.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Carmi Woods
Santa Rosa, Ca, 95404
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Carmi Woods
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: Barbara Batbie
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Barbara Batbie Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:45:15 PM
Attachments: 5908662939507560418.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Barbara Batbie
. , Santa Rosa, California, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Barbara Batbie
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, California, 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: Joshua Hallin
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Joshua Hallin Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:54:14 PM
Attachments: 5908667552418330004.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Joshua Hallin
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95401
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Joshua Hallin
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95401
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: Michelle Wolcott
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Michelle Wolcott Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:54:23 PM
Attachments: 5908668510171178116.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Michelle Wolcott
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
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: Sharina Arevalos
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Sharina Arevalos Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 9:55:30 PM
Attachments: 5908669185022119147.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Sharina Arevalos
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409-3010
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Sharina Arevalos
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, CA, 95409-3010
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: Adam Goodrich
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Adam Goodrich Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 10:00:32 PM
Attachments: 5908672178832969057.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Adam Goodrich
, Santa Rosa , CA, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Adam Goodrich
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: Morgan Morrow
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Morgan Morrow Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 10:03:11 PM
Attachments: 5908672993518197291.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Morgan Morrow
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Morgan Morrow
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: Kymberli Mcdonald
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Kymberli Mcdonald Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 10:12:12 PM
Attachments: 5908678384226990326.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Kymberli Mcdonald
Santa rosa, Ca, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Kymberli 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: Claudia Valencia
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Claudia Valencia Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 10:16:45 PM
Attachments: 5908681937338335164.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Claudia Valencia
, Santa Rosa, Ca, 95404
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Claudia Valencia
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: Justin Gillespie
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Justin Gillespie Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 10:33:09 PM
Attachments: 5908690069694994370.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Justin Gillespie
, Santa Rosa , Ca, 95405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Justin Gillespie
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: soledad machinandiarena
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - soledad machinandiarena Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 10:33:14 PM
Attachments: 5908691763318891746.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
soledad machinandiarena
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name soledad machinandiarena
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: Paul Quattrocchi
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Paul Quattrocchi Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 10:39:09 PM
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Paul Quattrocchi
, Santa Rosa , Ca, 95405
From: Kim Gorauskas
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Kim Gorauskas Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 10:48:10 PM
Attachments: 5908700356404215811.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Kim Gorauskas
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Kim Gorauskas
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: Shelly Fitzsimmons
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Shelly Fitzsimmons Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 11:02:17 PM
Attachments: 5908709233327023260.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Shelly Fitzsimmons
, Santa Rosa, Ca, 96405
Monday, May 6, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Shelly Fitzsimmons
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, Ca, 96405
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: Courtney Gregory
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Courtney Gregory Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 5:46:17 AM
Attachments: 5908951567063068966.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Courtney Gregory
, Santa Rosa, Ca, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Courtney Gregory
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: Erin Shea
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Erin Shea
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 6:28:51 AM
Attachments: 5908977208587402914.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Erin Shea
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Erin Shea
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: Aimee Allen
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Aimee Allen Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 6:48:51 AM
Attachments: 5908989200067399412.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Aimee Allen
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Aimee Allen
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: Janet Connors
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Janet Connors Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 6:54:39 AM
Attachments: 5908992666042700454.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Janet Connors
, Sonoma, Ca, 95476
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Janet Connors
Email
Address
Sonoma, Ca, 95476
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.
I feel this is vitally important for our children and students today and the adults they will become in the future.
Respectfully,
2 From: Bradley Welch
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Bradley Welch Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 6:59:14 AM
Attachments: 5908995401917358030.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Bradley Welch
, Santa , Rosa, 95404
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Bradley Welch
Email
Address
Santa , Rosa, 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: Andy Christopherson
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Andy Christopherson Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 7:03:22 AM
Attachments: 5908996904759601248.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Andy Christopherson
, Santa rosa, Ca, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Andy Christopherson
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 Martin
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Amy Martin
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 7:18:22 AM
Attachments: 5909005927492214079.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Amy Martin
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Amy Martin
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: Reagan Isachsen
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Reagan Isachsen Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 7:55:45 AM
Attachments: 5909029330648974405.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Reagan Isachsen
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95402
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Reagan Isachsen
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: Lisa Ellisen
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Lisa Ellisen Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 8:22:15 AM
Attachments: 5909045228048984718.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Lisa Ellisen
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Lisa Ellisen
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: Kristy Carlile
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Kristy Carlile Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 8:23:07 AM
Attachments: 5909045777225356490.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Kristy Carlile
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Kristy Carlile
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: Rick Carlile
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Rick Carlile Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 8:30:13 AM
Attachments: 5909048704494918348.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Rick Carlile
., Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Rick Carlile
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: Paula Craig
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Paula Craig Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 4:50:26 AM
Attachments: 5908918154062458715.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Paula Craig
., Santa Rosa, Ca., 95404
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Paula Craig
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: Justin Selander
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Justin Selander Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 5:05:52 AM
Attachments: 5908927403419449861.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Justin Selander
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Justin Selander
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: Katie Boyd
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Katie Boyd
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 8:30:22 AM
Attachments: 5909049378011690864.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Katie Boyd
, Santa Rosa, California, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Katie Boyd
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, California, 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: Cathy Halvorsen
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Cathy Halvorsen Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 8:30:23 AM
Attachments: 5909049675518569949.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Cathy Halvorsen
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Cathy Halvorsen
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: Noel McLaughlin
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Noel McLaughlin Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 9:44:26 AM
Attachments: Safe Attachments Scan In Progress.msg
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Noel McLaughlin
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Noel McLaughlin
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: Bradley Mitchell
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Bradley Mitchell Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 10:11:13 AM
Attachments: 5909110596238298184.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Bradley Mitchell
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Bradley Mitchell
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: Jill O’Keefe
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Jill O’Keefe Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 10:48:02 AM
Attachments: 5909132694881260269.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Jill O’Keefe
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Jill O’Keefe
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: Mike Halvorsen
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Mike Halvorsen Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 10:54:43 AM
Attachments: 5909136709143449563.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Mike Halvorsen
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Mike Halvorsen
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: Emily Dickey
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Emily Dickey Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 12:37:02 PM
Attachments: 5909198110546923155.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Emily Dickey
, Santa Rosa, Ca, 95403
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Emily Dickey
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: Rob Dillion
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Rob Dillion Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 1:04:35 PM
Attachments: 5909214625231605536.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Rob Dillion
., Rohnert Park, CA, 94928
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Rob Dillion
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: Francisco Wonneberger
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Francisco Wonneberger Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 1:58:26 PM
Attachments: 5909246845769162395.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Francisco Wonneberger
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Francisco Wonneberger
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: Anne Rhodes
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Anne Rhodes Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 2:11:43 PM
Attachments: 5909254920399975412.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Anne Rhodes
Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Anne Rhodes
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: Chris Haas
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Chris Haas
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 2:15:55 PM
Attachments: 5909257392513407716.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Chris Haas
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Chris Haas
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: John Breazeale
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - John Breazeale Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 4:56:34 PM
Attachments: 5909353724921740140.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
John Breazeale
, Santa Rosa, Ca, 95403
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name John Breazeale
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: Kristina Wilson
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Kristina Wilson Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 5:55:50 PM
Attachments: 5909389347065891733.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Kristina Wilson
, Santa Rosa, Ca, 96405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Kristina Wilson
Email
Address
Santa Rosa, Ca, 96405
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: Nicole Marlatt
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Nicole Marlatt Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 6:43:57 PM
Attachments: 5909418199811311139.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Nicole Marlatt
, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Nicole Marlatt
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: Chris Olhiser
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Chris Olhiser Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 8:54:34 PM
Attachments: 5909496628455673518.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Chris Olhiser
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Chris Olhiser
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: Anthony Newman
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Anthony Newman Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 9:08:39 PM
Attachments: 5909505092418072407.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Anthony Newman
Petaluma, CA, 94954
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Anthony Newman
Email
Address
Petaluma, CA, 94954
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 Hutcheon
To: CMOffice; Alton, Alan; [email protected]; CityCouncilListPublic; Cregan, John; City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Safe Schools Now! - Kim Hutcheon Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 6:19:53 AM
Attachments: 5909835800423361930.pdf
Honorary Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Members of the Santa Rosa City Council, Please see my attached letter.
Respectfully,
Kim Hutcheon
, Healdsburg, CA, 95448
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Safe Schools Now!
Name Kim Hutcheon
Email
Address
Healdsburg, CA, 95448
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