Printer Friendly Format Share


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 005-11
January 6, 2011

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION REQUIRING THE EDUCATION AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE STATISTICS ON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISCIPLINE AND SAFETY

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The first of two bills before me today is Introductory Number 442, sponsored by Council Members Jackson, Mark-Viverito, Vallone, Arroyo, Cabrera, Chin, Dromm, Ferreras, Fidler, Gentile, James, Koppell, Lander, Palma, Recchia, Sanders, Van Bramer, Vann, Williams, Mealy, Gonzalez, Lappin, Dickens, Koslowitz, Dilan, Eugene, Rose, Wills, Halloran, Gennaro, Garodnick, Barron, Greenfield, Levin, Nelson, Reyna, Rodriguez, and Ignizio.  Introductory Number 442 requires the Department of Education and Police Department to provide the City Council with reports on discipline and safety in New York City public schools.

"During the course of our Administration, public schools haven't just gotten better - they've also gotten safer. Overall crime in schools has decreased by a third, and the frequency of the seven major index crimes has decreased by almost half - thanks in large part to the hard work and dedication of teachers, parents, school administrators, and school safety agents.

"Introductory Number 442 would require the Department of Education to report on the number and type of suspensions issued, disaggregated by a series of demographic indicators.  It also would require the Police Department to report quarterly on the number of summonses, arrests, and non-criminal incidents.  Finally, it would codify the policy used by 311 call-takers when handling complaints regarding school safety agents.  Sharing this information with the Council will increase transparency and invite others to join in the hard and important work of making our schools even safer.

"I would like to thank Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, former Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and his successor Chancellor Cathie Black, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, and all of their staff for their work on this bill along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs.  I would also like to thank the Council for approving this legislation."







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Evelyn Erskine   (212) 788-2958



STAY CONNECTED

TwitterTwitter   TwitterYouTube   FlickrFlickr
More Resources