BALTIMORE – Due to an upswing in student gang violence, city officials have put together a school safety plan that calls for more than $3 million in budgeting to alleviate the problem at the estimated 30 area schools with gangs in them.
Approved by the school board, the budget allocates $1 million for more campus police officers, $1.8 million for more hall monitors and $300,000 to implement the policies outlined in the safety plan. The budget will allow police officers to teach drug and gang prevention programs, implement the Gang Resistance Education and Training program and revive the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in its schools.
District police officials estimate approximately 30 schools, most of which are middle or high schools, have gangs consisting of three or more students pursuing criminal activity. All five of the schools classified as “persistently dangerous” in Maryland are located in Baltimore.
Two community forums will be held to discuss the safety plan before a school board vote is held May 15. Once passing school board vote, the plan will next be submitted to the state.
