Carvalho Announced Initiative To Curb School Violence

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade schools announced a plan to curb violence in and around schools. It calls for increased  security measures, education and conflict resolution, and cooperation between schools  and outside agencies.

Friday, feet away from Brownsville Middle School a victim was rushed to the hospital after being shot.  It's another shooting scare that Rhona, a grandmother of two,  says happens way too often.

"Senseless. Something needs to be done about it. Too many guns on the street , too many young people have guns on the street something needs to be done", Rhona said.

Fridays shooting was just the latest incident involving a gun near a school.  In August, an 11-year-old brought a gun to school from home.  And last year a teen accidentally shot and killed a student while riding a bus.  That's why Miami-Dade Public Schools announced a plan Friday to address  the growing concern for gun violence in and around schools.

"I think everything  starts in school. These kids need guidance and we need to start them on the right path," said Anabel Herrera.  Her stepson, Bryan, was shot and killed last year while riding his bike to a friend's house to do homework.  The tenth grader was only a few blocks away from both his home and his school.  The murder has not been solved.

Alberto Carvalho, Miami-Dade School Superintendent, metioned Bryan's name along with other students who'd been killed or injured by violence. He says these students are the reason, "One gun in the streets of Miami is too many. One gun in school is one gun too many."

On the table:  beefed-up security measures.  Including, adding 18 more officers at middle and high schools, doubling the number of random weapons searches, and identifying mental health issues.

The new officers will bring the total of authorized Schools Police positions to 180 for this school year.  That's still down from the peak of 222 authorized positions in the peak year 2006-2007.

According to the district, the number of guns brought by a student has increased every year since 2009.  The  number of shots fired near schools has also increased.

Twice in the past decade, Miami-Dade schools have become murder scenes.  Juan Carlos Rivera was killed in the courtyard of Coral Gables Senior High in 2009,  and Jaime Gough was stabbed to death at  Southwood Middle School in 2004..

The police plan for safer schools is effective immediately.  The plan also calls for an extra investigator, canine,  and gun safety education for parents and children.

The new goals and tactics also included:

Adding more school resource officers to secondary schools to include middle and K-8 centers Working with DCF on cases where negligent action by the parents may have allowed a weapon to enter our school sites. Holding parents accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Continuing utilizing a random metal detection program Participating in and promoting the Miami-Dade Police Gun Bounty Program Assigning a detective part-time to Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to assist investigations of all firearm incidents by tracking and investigating the sources Working with local, state, and federal agencies to prevent weapons and drugs from getting onto the school sites Encouraging the use of anonymous tip reporting hotline, 305-995-COPS (2677), as well as Crime Stoppers Collaborating with the Round Table Youth Safety Committee and the Miami-Dade Police Chiefs Association Juvenile Safety Committee Collaborating with local law enforcement partners to utilize "Shot Spotter Sensor Program"

Increasing student awareness of weapons laws through presentations conducted by Youth Crime Watch

• Adding more school resource officers to secondary schools to include middle and K-8 centers
• Working with DCF on cases where negligent action by the parents may have allowed a weapon to enter our school sites. Holding parents accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
• Continuing utilizing a random metal detection program
• Participating in and promoting the Miami-Dade Police Gun Bounty Program
• Assigning a detective part-time to Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to assist investigations of all firearm incidents by tracking and investigating the sources
• Working with local, state, and federal agencies to prevent weapons and drugs from getting onto the school sites
• Encouraging the use of anonymous tip reporting hotline, 305-995-COPS (2677), as well as Crime Stoppers
• Collaborating with the Round Table Youth Safety Committee and the Miami-Dade Police Chiefs Association Juvenile Safety Committee
• Collaborating with local law enforcement partners to utilize "Shot Spotter Sensor Program"
• Increasing student awareness of weapons laws through presentations conducted by Youth Crime Watch