Survey questions focused primarily on school climate, including perceptions of disciplinary practices, student support efforts and degree of student engagement, as well as safety conditions such as bullying, teasing, physical assault and gang activity. Dr. Cornell said in a statement that the findings will help gauge schools’ strengths and weaknesses in terms of student and teacher safety, and stimulate discussions and clarification on how schools deal with student misbehavior.

According to the report, students largely believe that teachers and school officials are invested in their success and wellbeing. Eighty-six percent of students reported that teachers want all students in their school to do well, and 74 percent said teachers care about students and treat them with respect. Likewise, teachers almost unanimously described their relationships with students as supportive and respectful.

Student views on their school climate, however, were less cohesive. Just 67 percent of students reported that their school’s rules are fair, with 61 percent agreeing that rules were enforced equally. Nearly 80 percent noted that race and ethnicity had no impact on disciplinary situations.

Perhaps surprisingly, 84 percent of students reported that they like school, with 81 percent declaring they are proud of their institution. Nearly 100 percent of students surveyed expected to graduate.

Questions concerning safety conditions and perceptions of personal safety received less student support, though most (82 percent) reported that they feel safe in their schools. Despite this number, 38 percent of students reported being bullied, and 67 percent reported being teased about their physical appearance. An additional 40 percent reported being targeted for their sexual orientation.

A slightly higher percentage of teachers, more than 90 percent, reported feeling physically safe at their schools, though only 72 percent were satisfied with the security measures currently in place. Twenty-eight percent reported worries that their school would experience a shooting.

This fear may not be unfounded, as the study also showed that issues like theft and violence are still frequent concerns for many students. Thirty percent of students reported being victims of theft, while 17 percent have suffered physical violence such as hitting or pushing. More than 20 percent have been threatened with such violence, though less than 20 percent of affected students reported the abuse.

“There is so much coverage of school violence that we think it is important to point out some good news about the overall safety of our schools,” Professor Cornell said in a statement. “Both students and teachers report feeling safe at school, and the incidence of physical violence is very low. At the same time, we know that bullying and teasing can be a seedbed for acts of violence and so it is important for schools to address these kinds of problems before they escalate.”
A summary of the survey can be viewed at: http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/vcscs/documents/Exec%20Summary%20of%20State%20Technical%20Report%20for%202014%20High%20School%20Survey%207-30-14.pdf

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Edu-Safe Associates and Dimensions Unlimited were hired by the district at a cost of $70,000, and conducted thorough assessments of each school. Their individual reports recommended new classroom door locks, armed intruder training, which prepares teachers and administrators to respond to classroom breaches, and other measures for better preparation in the event of school violence.

Each also noted broad deficiencies in the schools’ public address systems. “Every principal at each site visited in BUSD advised that their public address, warning and campus-wide communication systems were either nonexistent, not operating or deficient in some way,” said the report from Dimensions Unlimited. “Administrators demonstrated that they could not cover the entire site with an emergency alert, a warning, or vital response information.”

The consulting firms also recommended the placement of police officers in each of the district’s 20 schools. However, the board declined, as the cost for such a program was estimated at $200,000 per school annually. Berkeley High School already has a full time police officer stationed on the campus, and staff at other schools have been trained to de-escalate instances of student violence.

Proposals to install surveillance cameras throughout the schools were met with concerns as well. Though board members supported the use of surveillance, they expressed reservations about the potential use of live video feed during an incident. Nine district schools already use this technology, but it will not be expanded until the board outlines a clear privacy policy.

Though violence within Berkeley schools is rare, incidents were reported in 2011. In February and March of that year several students brought guns on the school campus, and in one case a gun was fired but did not result in any injuries. However, threats such as robberies and reports of gunshots still originate within the surrounding community, causing schools to be put on lockdown several times a year. This was also reflected in the Edu-Safe report, which stated, “Just as in most school districts, the schools in Berkeley are microcosms of the communities in which they exist. All of the advantages and disadvantages of the community are reflected on the various school campuses.”

The initiatives are being funded through a variety of sources. Bond measures AA, H and I will support the bulk of the efforts at roughly $1,322,000. Fifteen thousand will also come from the district’s general fund. According to Lew Jones, director of facilities for the BUSD, recommended safety improvements will likely be completed before classes begin in the fall of 2015.

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Nelba Marquez-Greene, SHP’s Director of Mental Health and Relational Wellness, said in a statement that, although mental illness does not cause gun violence, it remains more than an occasional factor. “A holistic solution is needed to address the problem of gun violence, and looking at mental illness and general mental wellness are critical parts of the solution,” said Marquez-Greene.

According to a release issued by the group, “This funding will advance critical prevention efforts, providing training to teachers, providing services to students and young people at risk, and increasing the availability of trained behavioral health professionals.” Marquez-Greene adds that, “This is the first step…but we go forward in 2014 with hope, knowing that we have been heard, and as a result, lives may be saved.”

The bill passed the Senate easily by a 72 to 26 vote and includes multiple mental health allocations. It dedicates $15 million to Mental Health First Aid grants, training teachers to recognize early signs of mental illness so they can refer students and families to treatment. An additional $40 million was earmarked for Project Aware. This particular project will provide grants for comprehensive programs in up to 1,500 schools to link students with mental health issues to needed services. A program aimed at young adults at high risk of mental illness will also be developed using $20 million of the available funds.

The bill will also expand behavioral health workforce training opportunities. As a result of this new funding, an estimated 4,375 social workers, psychologists, therapists and other health professionals could be added to the workforce. Meanwhile, a $484 million investment in Mental Health Block Grants now directs states to use 5 percent of their Block Grants for early intervention programs for those with serious mental illness. This is anticipated to decrease the delay between the first onset of symptoms and people receiving necessary treatment. An additional $46 million and $65 million have been earmarked for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and suicide prevention programming respectively.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) also applauded the vote. “Expanding access to mental health services is one of the single most important steps we can take to prevent gun violence,” Blumenthal said in a statement. “Expanding access to these services…will help ensure that those who are dangerously mentally ill get the help they need before they hurt themselves or others.”

Sandy Hook Promise is a national, non-profit organization spearheaded by members of the Newtown community. The group’s mission is “to prevent the causes of gun violence by education and empowering parents to make changes in their community,” and to provide support to affected members of the Sandy Hook community.

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