PURPOSE

Staff, supported by a the recommendation of the Mayor�s Youth Task Force, is requesting City Council authorization to fund a continuation of the Middle School Grant Program to complete the current school year. The mission of the City of Burbank�s Middle School Grant Program is to provide, encourage and support activities that contribute to the prevention of violence, reduction of conflict and promotion of  productive and positive experiences for Burbank Unified School District (BUSD) middle school students. If approved, the BUSD three middle schools (Jordan, Luther Burbank and John Muir) will collectively receive up to $75,000 in one-time City of Burbank General Fund funding from the previously approved Non-department Holding Account for the purpose of continuing the implementation of the programs and services.

BACKGROUND

In March 2001, at the direction of the City Council and the Burbank Unified School District Board, City and School District staff conducted a survey of all Burbank middle school and high school youth. At the conclusion of the survey, students were asked to describe the three most significant issues facing youth. Focus group discussions followed with the goal of further defining these issues and initiating the solution development process.  In October of 2001, a cross section of 200 students from middle and high schools gathered for a full day Youth Solution Summit to discuss and develop potential solutions to the many youth issues identified during the survey and focus group process.  The results have been documented in the Youth Solution Summit Report.

With direction from the City Council, BUSD Board of Education, the Mayor�s Youth Task Force, Park, Recreation and Community Services Board, Youth Board and the Teens In Action teams, staff has been implementing youth identified solutions.   In July of 2002, the Mayor�s Youth Task Force recommended and the Burbank Unified School District Board of Education approved the implementation of the Peace Colors Program at each Burbank middle school.

The Peace Colors Program is described by Dr. Caroline Brumm, BUSD Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, as a program �that is designed to help students and teachers learn to address and ameliorate programs including drugs, alcohol and violence.  The emphasis of the Peace Colors Program includes promoting activities which will prevent violence, help students learn techniques and strategies for anger management, conflict resolution and respect for the diverse society in which students function.  Outcomes include students demonstrating respect for cultural diversity, resolving conflicts in a peaceful fashion, the absence of bullying, the ability to deal with peer pressure, and being able to refuse to participate in substance use/abuse and participation in activities that build character and success.�

It is the purpose of the Middle School Grant Program to assist in the funding and implementation of the Peace Colors Program and related recommendations from the Youth Solutions Summit Report.  Attached for your review are excerpts from the report which highlight student identified issues and their solutions related to peer pressure, race, and school violence.  (Attachment I)

The primary goals of the Middle School Grant Program are:

• To provide direct funding to Burbank Unified School District middle schools for the purpose of implementing appropriate components and activities relative to the Peace Colors Program. 

• To provide direct funding to Burbank middle schools for the purpose of implementing recommendations from the Youth Solution Summit Report related to conflict resolution, anger management, cultural diversity, and positive alternatives to violent behavior.   

• To provide flexible funding to assist in the development of youth directed, developed and implemented programs to address the above stated issues.

In November 2002, the Mayor�s Youth Task Force reviewed the Middle School Grant Program proposals and recommended that each of the middle schools be awarded $50,000. The City Council approved this recommendation and $150,000 was allocated to the Middle School Grant Program. During the Spring semester of the 2002-2003 school year, each of the middle schools began a limited initiation of activities and programs that addressed the needs on its campus as they related to the goals of the grant.

With the understanding that a broader implementation of the Middle School Grant Program was to begin in September 2003, staff submitted in June the Mayor�s Youth Task Force recommendations for additional youth services and programming.  In anticipation that there would not be sufficient funding throughout the 2003-2004 school year for programs, a request for additional funds was included (Attachment II).  The City Council directed staff to return at such time that additional funds would be necessary. 

In February 2004, the three middle school principals provided a report to the Mayor�s Youth Task Force outlining their implemented programs, status of expenditures, and the number of students served by the programs (Attachment III). At this time the principals indicated that the funds granted have been exhausted or were near exhaustion and that additional funding would be needed for continuance of programming for the remainder of the 2003-2004 school year.  The principals expressed that not only have they had the opportunity to provide additional programs on their sites, the programs have made a positive impact on their campuses.  They have lead to improved calmness on campus, increased student self-esteem, improved test scores, increased student involvement in activities, and created student bodies more connected with their schools and peers.

The most significant issues identified by the middle school students were drugs and alcohol, violence and safety, and peer pressure.  Through the middle school grant funding, students and administrators worked together to develop programs to address these issues.  While some of these programs and activities were unique to their campus, others were common and joint programs.  The latter included tri-school competitions and excursions to the Museum of Tolerance.   Each school provided all-school programs as well as programs and activities directed at students with special needs or interests.

There are three general areas/goals in which the schools have addressed and categorized their programs:

1)       To address safety, verbal altercations, fights & bullying on campus.

       Examples include:

• Increase adult supervision at lunch and afterschool to reduce altercations and provide a sense of security to students on campus.

• Purchase of additional hand held radios to provide communication between security personnel and improve student supervision and safety.

• Implementation of lunchtime activities such as sports activities, tournaments, board games, music, book and craft clubs, group/peer counseling, tutoring to engage students in positive interactions with each other and to foster self-esteem.

• Implementation of afterschool activities which included music programs and tri-school tournaments to provide positive activities and that fostered friendly competition between schools.

2)       To provide learning and remedial opportunities to include the needs of �at-risk� students which will enhance connectedness to schools and build self-esteem through academic success.  

            Examples include:

• Hire teachers to provide afterschool Power Clinics to provide remedial assistance in academic areas such as reading, writing and math.

• Provide afterschool Homework Clubs and tutoring.

      3)   To bring awareness about school emphasis on Anti-Bullying, Non-Violence      

            and Tolerance

            Examples include:

• Eighth graders visited the Museum of Tolerance in 2003 and 2004 which provided students with an interactive opportunity to learn about how prejudice and racism can negatively impact people.

• All-school assemblies at each campus to reinforce the idea of tolerance, cultural appreciation and anti-bullying.  They were provided by organizations such as the Center for the Advancement of Non-Violence.

• Purchase of pamphlets available for students and parents on such topics as dealing with anti-bullying, violence, attitude, managing anger, and coping with divorce.

• Purchase of �Bully Free� materials and other materials promoting non-violence which included classroom posters and books.

• Staff training in the use of �Bully-Free� curriculum in the classrooms and training in non-violence concepts conducted by the Center for the Advancement of Non-Violence.

• Implementation of Peace Clubs on campus

ANALYSIS

The City of Burbank places a strong emphasis on the provision of quality programs, services and facilities benefiting the youth of the community.   For the purpose of this grant program, funding is limited to programs and activities serving the Burbank Unified School District�s middle school youth.  It is the intent of the Middle School Grant Program to provide each Burbank Unified School District middle school with focused, yet flexible funding.  Collectively, the grant funding is serving some 3,835 of our community�s youth, which comprise the total enrollment at the three BUSD middle schools. The Program is designed to fund recommendations as directed by the Burbank City Council, Burbank Unified School District Board and Mayor�s Youth Task Force with significant input from the Park, Recreation and Community Services Board, the Youth Solution Summit and Burbank Youth Board.  Concurrently, the Program offers each middle school the flexibility to implement individualized programs designed to meet the specific needs of each school and its students.  

Previously, the City Council approved $150,000 for the Middle School Grant Program to initiate programs and services which began on a limited basis, in the spring 2002-2003 school year.  The money allocated provided the schools an opportunity to continue programs into the 2003-2004 school year.  City Council directed staff to return for additional funding when the previously approved appropriation had been expended.   Each of the three schools has utilized nearly $50,000 during two semesters of implementation. The desire is to have the current programs and services continue through the remaining three (3) months of this school year.

 With an additional $75,000 in funding, it is the intent of the middle schools to keep the students engaged in continued services. Also, in response to students� requests, programs will be enhanced with an even  greater focus on anti-bullying and non-violence issues on all three campuses. Collectively, the three schools will provide greater school staff awareness by providing additional anti-bullying curriculum in the classroom; and work with the Center for the Advancement of Non-violence to provide assemblies, secure new materials promoting non-violence, and continue to sponsor school activities during lunchtime and after school.  It is the recommendation of the Mayor�s Youth Task Force that an additional $75,000 be appropriated to the Middle School Grant Program with the intent that each individual middle school be awarded $25,000 to provide their students continued services.     

FISCAL IMPACT

During the Fiscal Year 2002-2003 budget process, the City Council directed staff to establish a holding account and one-time appropriation of $500,000 for the development and implementation of youth oriented projects.  At this time, $175,800 is still available for expenditure.  If approved as proposed, the Middle School Grant Program will be awarded $75,000 from the remaining funds available in the General Fund Non-Departmental Holding Account 001.ND000.62970. Each school will be awarded $25,000 for the purpose of providing their students with expanded and continued services.

RECOMMENDATION

It is the recommendation of staff and the Mayor�s Youth Task Force that the City Council adopt the resolution approving funding in the amount of $75,000 for the Middle School Grant Program.

go to the top