Project Grant 15JCOPS23GG04818SCAX

UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER (UCC) SCHOOLS IS A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT LOCATED IN MILWAUKEE, WI. ITS 3 SCHOOLS SERVE STUDENTS K-38TH GRADE; STUDENT POPULATION AT 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR START WAS 1,632. STUDENTS/FAMILIES ARE 87% LATINO & 75+% LOW-INCOME. TARGETED ZIP CODES 53204/53215 HAVE HIGH RATES OF CRIME. IN THE PAST 24 MONTHS, UCC SCHOOL DISTRICT ASSESSED ITS SECURITY RISKS & CORRESPONDING RESPONSE CAPACITIES. WHILE ASSESSMENTS ARE DONE EVERY 2-3 YEARS, RECENT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES MADE THE NEED MORE PRESSING E.G., ESCALATED NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AT UCC SCHOOLS (& NATIONALLY), PANDEMIC & POLITICAL/SOCIAL UPHEAVAL IMPACTS. THE CAMPUS-WIDE ASSESSMENT WAS CONDUCTED BY AN INDEPENDENT SECURITY CONSULTANT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROCESS WAS KEY PROJECT PARTNER MILWAUKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT (MPD) DISTRICT TWO (ALONG WITH OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS). FINDINGS INDICATED THE CAMPUS IS STILL HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO A RACIALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENT EXTREMIST, ALONG WITH (1) DEFICIENCIES IN OPERATIONAL & FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEM. LACK OF TACTICAL VIEWS AT ENTRY WAYS, PINCH POINTS, & CRITICAL LOCATIONS NEAR FREEWAY, PLAYGROUND, HIGH TRAFFICKED AREAS. (2) NO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME ON-SITE INFORMATION SHARING CRITICAL TO ADVISE OCCUPANTS OF IMMINENT DANGER & RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS. IN 2022-23, UCC SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTED THE I LOVE U GUYS FOUNDATIONS STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL (SRP) DERIVED FROM RESEARCH-BASED BEST PRACTICE. STAFF RECEIVED ON-SITE TRAINING & STUDENTS/PARENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN TRAINED & ARE BEING DRILLED MONTHLY. TO DATE THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN 4 INCIDENTS ON OR ADJACENT TO UCC SCHOOLS INVOLVING THREAT/ACTUAL USE OF FIREARMS. THE SRP WAS SUCCESSFULLY UTILIZED FOR THESE INCIDENTS & POST-INCIDENT MPD DEBRIEFINGS WERE HELD. THIS REQUEST REFLECTS NEEDS IDENTIFIED AS MOST CRITICAL TO HARDENED PREVENTION & RESPONSE CAPABILITIES. IN CONJUNCTION WITH ITS STAKEHOLDERS, UCC WORKS TO ENSURE EFFORTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH SCHOOL MISSION, CULTURE, & GUIDING PRINCIPLES (E.G., ACCESSIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY). GOALS ARE THAT: 1) UCC SCHOOLS STUDENTS, PARENTS, FAMILIES, & STAFF WILL FEEL SAFE, VALUED, & EMPOWERED TO RESPOND CONFIDENTLY/COMPETENTLY TO A CAMPUS EMERGENCY. 2) POST-INCIDENT ANALYSIS (& FUTURE RISK ASSESSMENTS) WILL REPORT QUANTIFIABLE (& SUSTAINED) MITIGATION OF NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES RELATED TO ATTEMPTED OR PERPETRATED BREACHES TO CAMPUS SECURITY. OBJECTIVES ARE THAT: UCC SCHOOLS WILL BE FULLY COMPLIANT WITH 2021 RISK ASSESSMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FACTORED INTO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING & THIS REQUEST. ENHANCED CAMPUS SECURITY & TRAINING RESULT IN 75% OF STUDENTS, PARENTS, STAFF, & COMMUNITY STATING (VIA SURVEY) THEY FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT THEIR SAFETY WHILE ON CAMPUS. 75% OF UCC SCHOOLS STUDENTS, STAFF, & PARENTS SURVEYED REPORT THEY EXPERIENCE INDICATORS OF A HEALTHY SCHOOL CLIMATE. CURRENT STATUS IS ONE OF INTEGRATING RECOMMENDED SAFETY PROCESSES & PHYSICAL PLANT IMPROVEMENTS. EXPANDED NOTIFICATION PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE & UCC IS SEEKING THIS & OTHER FUNDING TO MAKE PHYSICAL PLANT CHANGES/ADDITIONS TO OPTIMIZE SAFETY, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, & A CLIMATE WHERE ALL ARE EMPOWERED TO RESPOND COMPETENTLY TO THREATS. REFLECTING EXPERT RECOMMENDATION, UCC SCHOOLS WILL USE COPS/SVPP FUNDS TO PURCHASE & INSTALL SECURITY HARDENING EQUIPMENT: PANIC BUTTONS; DOOR LOCKS INCLUDING NEW LOCKS ON MIDDLE SCHOOL FRONT DOORS; UPGRADED, FULLY INTEGRATED PAGING SYSTEM; UPGRADED 2-WAY RADIOS; &, ADDITIONAL/UPGRADED SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.