Contact: Sunny Mindel (212) 788-2958
Edward Skyler (212) 788-2969
The Park West High School Collaborative Problem Solving Initiative has received a $255,000 federal grant to create anti-crime teams dedicated to helping make the school safe, free of drugs and violence. The grant was awarded by the United States Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing as part of a national effort to encourage partnerships between schools, law enforcement and community organizations. The grant will be administered by the New York City Police Department and the Citizens Committee for New York City.
"Every child is entitled to receive an education free from fear and intimidation. Using the grant money to pool resources from the school itself, law enforcement, and the community, Park West High School will create a new approach to preventing dangerous conditions at New York City schools," Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani said.
"This partnership between students, parents, and faculty will further our efforts to make our schools safe and more orderly places for learning. This adds to the school safety initiatives which already include the transfer of the Division of School Safety from the Board of Education to the NYPD," said Steven M. Fishner, New York City Criminal Justice Coordinator.
Park West High School serves 2,411 students in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. The thirteen other schools in the five-block area surrounding Park West, with their total student population of over 15,000 students, exacerbates the potential for gang-related activity and related problems. During the first quarter of 1999, there were 51 serious reported incidents at Park West, ranging from assault with a weapon to harassment to drug possession. In addition, only 36% of Park West students graduated on time, compared to the city-wide average of 49%.
COPS will create a Project Management Team to analyze the problems that occur at Park West High School. The team will be composed of top officials from the NYPD Division of School Safety, the Citizens Committee and the Board of
Education as well as parent, student and teachers representatives. The team will design workshops to train participants in problem-solving techniques and offer technical assistance. In addition, workshop participants will be eligible for small grants to implement their responses to the identified problems.
The workshops will be held at the high school during day and evening sessions to maximize participation by students, parents, teachers, school administrators and community residents. COPS aims to support and guide the school community as it addresses its problems at their core and creates a safer environment for Park West High School and the surrounding community.