Minnesota Institute of Public Health

MIPH has been honored in having been approached by schools that have known us and trusted us to help with prevention activity.  That has included schools in our state and region that experienced the horrific tragedies that involved school shootings.  Because there was a felt need and it was not being met, and because we were asked, four years ago MIPH created a division called the Avert Center for Safer Schools.  It has been coordinated by Ed Marsman, formerly of Duluth, Minnesota public schools, and also staffed by other MIPH employees, consultants currently working in Minnesota schools, and school safety directors, as well as law enforcement and public safety leaders.  And of course, it’s all research-based and tested true. See our website (www.miph.org/avert) for more details.

We have adapted a successful school safety assessment protocol, a training piece, and wrap around technical assistance services to engage schools and communities in their critical effort.  Several dozen Avert on-site school safety assessments have now been completed in Minnesota and other states.  Many schools have simply purchased our staff and community training DVD, and our posters with a call to action to“Avert a crisis. Be a hero. SAY Something!” when you are concerned about certain behaviors.

The problem is lack of resources.  Most every school we have spoken with has been interested in achieving a safer school climate, which among other things contributes to a more successful learning environment.  But often its one long run-on sentence “we love this stuff and think it’s of value, but we don’t have any money.”  We feel their pain.

It occurred to us, since MIPH, through the courage of its Board of Directors, and the passion and skill of our staff have believed so strongly that SOMEONE should do something to help advance school safety, that it might be a good idea to help schools explore how to pay for school safety assistance.

Here’s the beginning of our research on that:

• Safe Schools Levy (M.S. 126C.44) is a Minnesota Legislative enactment effective for revenue for fiscal year 2010. Each school district may make a levy on all taxable property located within the district for the purposes specified in this statute. The maximum amount which may be levied for all costs incurred under this statute is $30 pera district’s "adjusted" marginal cost pupil units (AMCPU) for the school year. For example, if school district A has 325 AMCPU’s for the most current school year, the district would be allowed to levy and collect $9,750 a year under this statute (325 AMCPU x $30). The proceeds of the levy must be reserved and used for the following purposes:

1. To pay the costs incurred for the salaries, benefits and transportation costs of peace officers and sheriffs for liaison in services in the district’s schools.
2. To pay the costs for a drug abuse prevention program as defined in section 609.101, subdivision 3, paragraph (3), in the elementary schools. 
3. To pay the costs for a gang resistance education training curriculum in the district’s schools.
4. To pay the costs for security in the district’s schools and on school property.
5. To pay the costs for other crime prevention, drug abuse, student and staff safety, voluntary opt-in suicide prevention tools and violence prevention measures taken by the school district.
6. To pay costs for licensedschool counselors, licensed school nurses, licensed school social workers, licensed school psychologists, and licensed alcohol and chemical dependency counselors to help provide early responses to problems.

• MDE UFARS 352 Emergency Action Plan: Minnesota Department of Education’s Health and Safety Policy letter is conflicting regarding funding for aspects of the Avert program. Violence prevention is discussed on page 4 of the policy letter, stating, “Violence prevention costs are not funded by Health and Safety Revenue. Costs for plans, personnel, equipment and facilities in support of violence prevention and building security is fundable under the Safe Schools Levy (M.S. 126C.44)". This language clearly states that violence prevention should not be funded via health and safety revenue. Although the narrative states violence prevention is not directly part, it goes on to say “Cooperate with local government authorities to ensure the preparation of plans for the protection of students in an emergency.”


• Many local charitable gambling efforts and local employers are currently pondering support to local school safety measures. 

What’s left is, -- like affordable medical science where the procedure CAN BE DONE and the only remaining question is who’s going to pay for it -- we can help schools and communities think that through.

We owe it to our kids to figure it out ---- now!