Project Grant 15JCOPS23GG04516SSIX

THE BABOQUIVARI UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT #40 (BUSD) IS LOCATED IN SELLS, ARIZONA APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MILES NORTH OF THE MEXICAN BORDER AND EDUCATES 1,049 STUDENTS WITHIN SIX SCHOOLS - INDIAN OASIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BABOQUIVARI INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, INDIAN OASIS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, AND BABOQUIVARI MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. SELLS SERVES AS THE CAPITAL FOR THE TOHONO OODHAM NATION, WHICH IN ADDITION TO THE TOWN CENTER OF SELLS, OCCUPIES 3,400 MILES OF SURROUNDING RESERVATION LAND. CURRENTLY, 98%OF THE STUDENTS IN BUSD ARE MEMBERS OF THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY. WITH A POVERTY RATE OF 30.8% AND A POPULATION OF 2,121, SELLS IS A RURAL - REMOTE (43) COMMUNITY THAT HAS FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. ISOLATION, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE ARE AMONG THE MOST COMMON HARDSHIPS REPORTED IN THE DISTRICT AND ON THE RESERVATION. GIVEN THE VAST GEOGRAPHICAL DISTANCES WITHIN THE COUNTY, AND THE LACK OF HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES, MEMBERS OF THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES HAVE WORKED HARD TO KEEP THEIR COMMUNITY SAFE. MOREOVER, BECAUSE FIREARMS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE RESERVATION, TOPD SUSPECTS THERE ARE MORE THAN A HUNDRED UNREGISTERED WEAPONS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO TRACK. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A RISE OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS ON BUSDS CAMPUSES, INCLUDING BOMB AND ACTIVE SHOOTER THREATS AS WELL AS FIST FIGHTS AND OVERNIGHT BREAK-INS ON CAMPUS BY IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE CROSSED THE BORDER ILLEGALLY. ALONG WITH THESE PHYSICAL THREATS, THERE HAVE BEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES FOR STUDENTS AS WELL. IN THE LAST YEAR, BUSD LOST THREE OF ITS STUDENTS TO DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND SUICIDE - AN OCCURRENCE THAT IS SADLY BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE A TREND. THE DISTRICT KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT ITS STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE SUPPORTED WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY CAN LEARN AND GROW. THE FACULTY, STAFF, PARENTS, AND THEIR COMMUNITY PARTNERS SHARE DUTIES TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL DESPITE A LACK OF PERSONNEL. AS ANN CORDEN, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING AT BUSD, PUT IT, WE ARE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY NETWORK, WHERE EVERY AGENCY COMES TOGETHER FOR THE STUDENTS. THE HOPE IS THAT BY INCREASING SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE, FOSTERING BETTER COMMUNICATION, AND EXPANDING THE DISTRICTS WRAP AROUND SERVICES, BUSD CAN WORK TO PREVENT FURTHER TRAGEDY FROM STRIKING THEIR SMALL COMMUNITY. IN RESPONSE TO THE DISTRICTS MOST RECENT SITE ASSESSMENT, BUSD SUPERINTENDENT RUBEN DIAZ HAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES WITHIN HIS SCHOOLS ARE ADDING SECURITY CAMERAS, IMPLEMENTING ACCESS CONTROLS AND CREATING AN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN THAT COMPLIES WITH ARIZONA STATE LAW. ACCORDING TO DIAZ, THE GOAL IS FOR STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE THEIR BACK.