Detroit Gets $200,000 For School Safety Strategy
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Detroit Public Schools has received a donation totaling more than $200,000 to keep students safe while they travel to and from school.
The money, which was donated Thursday by AAA of Michigan, will be used to fund a strategy to enhance the safety of students through coordinated safety zones, street light replacement, blight removal, signage and more. It will also allow for the addition of 10 new volunteer vehicle patrols and equip them with identification badges, reflective vests, two-way radios and gas expenses.
The Safe Routes to School strategy is a citywide effort that focuses on prevention, intervention, enforcement and re-entry. It directly supports the Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Initiative.
DPS Police Chief Stacey Brackens says there are certain times of the day when kids feel most at risk.
"There's been a survey done by students are four highs schools, and they've given us times they think it's not safe," Brackens told WWJ Newsradio 950. "And one of the times they say the feel the most unsafe, going from school home, is 4 p.m. to 6 p.m."
AAA donated $56,000 to support Safe Routes last year, when it only covered 14 school zones. The program has since expanded to include all 97 school campuses.
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