Assembly Resolution No. 1401

BY: M. of A. Rules (Pellegrino)

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
October 21-27, 2018, as Safe Schools Week in the
State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance with America's Safe Schools Week

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
issues that affect the lives of our students from the State of New York;
and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 21-27, 2018, as
Safe Schools Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of America's Safe Schools Week; and

WHEREAS, America's Safe Schools Week occurs annually during the
third full week in October; activities conducted during this special
week draw attention to the continuing problem of school violence and
educate everyone about how schools can be made safer and more secure;
and

WHEREAS, America's Safe Schools Week offers an opportunity to
address this very important issue and to take steps to ensure that
schools offer students and teachers an environment in which they can
perform to the best of their abilities; and

WHEREAS, It is also important to increase dialogue and partnerships
between the school districts, parents, community members and students to
promote a safe and secure school setting; and

WHEREAS, Each school day, our nation's schools are entrusted to
provide a safe and healthy learning environment for approximately 55
million elementary and secondary school students; and

WHEREAS, Lessons learned from school emergencies, such as school
shootings at Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Parkland, highlight the
importance of preparing school officials and first responders to
implement emergency operations plans; by having plans in place to keep
students and staff safe, schools play a key role in taking preventative
and protective measures to stop an emergency from occurring or reduce
the impact of an incident; and

WHEREAS, If an incident should occur, it is imperative that support
services and social/emotional learning programs are available to each
and every student and school staff member; and

WHEREAS, On February 14, 2018, a mass shooting was committed at
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; 17 people
were killed and 17 more were wounded, making it one of the world's
deadliest school massacres; and

WHEREAS, One month later, tens of thousands of students across the
country walked out of their classrooms on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, and
onto athletic fields and city streets as part of a massive national
protest on gun violence spurred by the shooting in Parkland; and

WHEREAS, The walkouts, which came 10 days before the March For Our
Lives in Washington, D.C. which drew approximately 200,000 students to
our nation's capital, are unprecedented in recent American history, not
seen in size or scope since student protests of the Vietnam War in the
late 1960s; and

WHEREAS, Supporters say the walkouts and demonstrations represent a
realization of power and influence by young people raised on social
media who have come of age in an era of never-ending wars, highly
publicized mass shootings and virulent national politics; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the efforts of all those
who raise awareness and educate others about the very real dangers in
our schools, thereby improving the quality of life for our youth, our
most precious resource; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 21-27, 2018, as
Safe Schools Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of America's Safe Schools Week; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.