M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Rafael G. Casals, Town Manager
Date: January 20, 2016
Re: Fiscal Year 2016 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG): Cutler Bay Safe Schools Program
REQUESTTitle
A resolution of the mayor and town council of the town of cutler bay, florida, accepting a fISCAL yEAR 2016 edward byrne memorial justice assistance grant (Jag) award in the amount of $5,193; AUTHORIZING the TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE THIS GRANT, AND PROVIDING FOR an effective date.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Funding Source: FY16 Florida Department of Law Enforcement - Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
Project Title: Cutler Bay Safe Schools Program
Amount Awarded: $5,193 Match Required: $0
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (42 U.S.C. 3751(a)) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to State and Local jurisdictions. The JAG Program provides states and units of local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education programs, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, crime victim and witness initiatives, and planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.
On November 30, 2015, the Town submitted a grant application requesting funding on behalf of the Cutler Bay Policing Unit. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has allocated $5,193 for the Town of Cutler Bay for law enforcement services.
The Cutler Bay Safe Schools Program is a newly established program that will allow officers to work more closely with local schools to reduce instances of violence and/or bullying through education and increased awareness. The primary focus of this program will be on Cutler Bay Middle School (formerly Cutler Bay Academy of Advanced Studies, Cutler Ridge Campus). This is the only middle school located in Cutler Bay (19400 Gulfstream Rd in Cutler Bay, FL). Recent reports released in May 2015 found that over the past two years, Cutler Bay Middle has been listed among the schools with the most safety incidents reported to the Florida Department of Education.
The Town's Neighborhood Resource Unit (NRU) currently works closely with local schools in order to provide educational activities such as bike safety and personal safety. The addition of a school safety program that will target bullying and promote a safe environment for youth to reach out to help other students will hopefully reduce the number of incidents reported.
Officers will be on hand to support school staff and security in identifying the source of negative behaviors and implementing a strategy to reduce these behaviors. The Town's policing unit is currently developing an educational component that will be incorporated at all local schools during the 2015-16 school year.
Planned activities will include, but will not be limited to;
(1) Educational Presentations on Bully Prevention and Safety
(2) Training of "Safety Ambassadors" These are youth that will promote safety and will befriend youth that are potentially being bullied.
(3) Installation of "Safety Benches" or "Buddy Benches". These are safe spaces placed at the school where if a child is sitting on the bench a "Safety Ambassador" or other student will befriend the child.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the attached Resolution be adopted, authorizing the Town Manger to execute Fiscal Year 2015 FDLE - Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $5,193.