Lessons Learned in Parkland, Florida
ADVOCATING FOR IMPROVED INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION & SAFER SCHOOLS Ms. Michele Mellgren, AICP President The Mellgren Planning Group Representative Jared Moskowitz
Florida House of Representatives 97th District Ms. Carole Morris
Chief Administrative Officer City of Parkland, Florida Mr. John J. Sullivan
Director of Legislative Affairs Broward County Public Schools AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
Principles to Which We Aspire:
We shall have special concern for the long-range consequences of present actions.
We shall pay special attention to the interrelatedness of decisions. #NeverAgain “FIVE STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVED INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION POLICIES AND SAFER SCHOOL FACILITIES”
Ms. Carole Morris, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Parkland, Florida FOCUS THE MISSION
ENGAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR The Basics ▪ Prioritize PROMOTE A CULTURE OF ▪ Reach Out COLLABORATION WITH VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORT ▪ Use Partnerships & Find New Partners GROUPS AND NON-PROFITS ▪ Coordinate & Collaborate ▪ Innovate – Think Outside the Box MERGE INTERESTS ▪ Expect the Playing Field to Shift…Often
STEP OUTSIDE THE BOX: PARADIGM SHIFT 1. FOCUS THE MISSION
What’s the priority?
▪ Recognize what you can control and what you cannot ▪ Talk to experts ▪ Listen to those who’ve come before you ▪ Listen to community voices 2. ENGAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Reach out! ▪ Engage everyone! Public sector, non-profits, private sector, etc. ▪ Take advantage of volunteers – goods and services ▪ Engage – know what other organizations, public and private are doing ▪ Make connections between those with resources and needs PROMOTE A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION
Use Partnerships & Find New Partners ▪ Use organizational strengths – yours and theirs ▪ Follow up on new contacts and referrals ▪ Ask, ask, and ask again ▪ Coordinate and collaborate MERGE INTERESTS
▪ Broward County Resiliency Center ▪ Facility owned by the City ▪ Services currently provided by Broward County Public Schools ▪ Facility furnished by a group of community volunteers ▪ Numerous agencies providing services 4. MERGE INTERESTS
School & Community Public Safety Task Force Report ▪ Broward League of Cities – School and Community Pubic Safety Task Force ▪ Broward County MSD After-Action Task Force ▪ Marjory Stoneman Douglas Commission 5. STEP OUTSIDE THE BOX
Innovate ▪ Find your “experts” ▪ Listen, read, research and learn ▪ Cultivate new relationships and partnerships ▪ Accept that this is a marathon, not a sprint “ADVOCACY 101”
Representative Jared Moskowitz, Florida House of Representatives, 97th District FIGHT FOR CHANGE! The Basics SCHOOL SAFETY POLICY ▪ Who represents you and your family? MAKING ▪ City Commission ▪ School Board ▪ Judges ▪ FL District Representatives ADVOCATE LOCALLY ▪ US District Representatives ▪ What values do they embrace? ▪ Are they getting results on the critical STATE POLICY MAKING issues? FIGHT FOR CHANGE! HB 165 ▪ Addresses Written Threats ▪ Mass Shootings ▪ Acts of Terrorism ▪ Bill makes it a second-degree felony to make such a threat in writing, electronically or otherwise ▪ To violate the new law, a person must: ▪ Write or compose a threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terror ▪ Post or transmit the threat in a manner to allow any other person to view it. FIGHT FOR CHANGE! SCHOOL SAFETY POLICY MAKING
CS/HB 7026
▪ Gun Safety ▪ Red Flags ▪ Age limit ▪ Waiting Period ▪ Bump Stocks ▪ Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission ▪ Money for SRO’s/Officers/Mental Health SCHOOL SAFETY POLICY MAKING
Lessons Learned
• Take Immediate Action • Publicize Your Efforts • Share solutions with others • Highlight optimism and determination • Tweak, Change, & Update Policies • Annually; or, • As needed LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICY MAKING
Maximum Coordination
▪ Police Departments ▪ School District ▪ County ▪ Cities STATE POLICY MAKING
Use Your Voting Power
• Know candidates’ stance on key issues • Keep them accountable • Letters • E-mails • Voting Booth WHAT’S NEXT?
2018/2019 Legislative Sessions
▪ More money for school safety ▪ Continue the fight for common sense gun legislation ▪ Increase cohesiveness among government entities ▪ Protect the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act ARE YOU AARE BETTER YOU SMARTER ADVOCATE THAN THAN A FIFTH GRADER? A FIFTH GRADER? “THE ABC’S OF ADVOCATING FOR SAFER SCHOOLS”
Mr. John J. Sullivan, Director of Legislative Affairs, Broward County Public Schools
ADVOCATE FOR SAFETY
BEYOND SAFETY: QUALITY & EQUITY
COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE STAKEHOLDERS
EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION ADVOCATE
Advocate for Safety ▪ Policies and Standard Practices ▪ School Safety Officers ▪ Mental Health Services ▪ Enforce existing safety protocols ▪ Training Programs ▪ Code Red/ Active Assailant Drills ▪ Community Partnerships ▪ Initiatives ▪ Single Point of Entry ▪ Surveillance Cameras ▪ Security Risk Assessment BEYOND SAFETY: QUALITY & EQUITY
▪At least 72% - compensation of teachers and school related staff ▪20% - security improvement measures, an additional 300 security personnel ▪Up to 8% for essential programs, an additional 100 school counselor COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS
▪ Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) ▪ Florida School Board Association (FSBA) ▪ Florida Education Legislative Liaisons (FELL) ▪ League of Cities ▪ United Way ▪ Children’s Services Council ▪ Local Organizations DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE STAKEHOLDERS
▪ Teachers ▪ Parents ▪ Students ▪ Local Governments ▪ Local Groups ▪ Health Care Community ▪ Mental Health Providers ▪ State-wide associations EXPAND… YOUR OUTLOOK!
Expand the Definition of Intergovernmental Coordination
▪ Federal Government ▪ State Government ▪ Local Government(s) QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
Lessons Learned in Parkland, Florida