On the inaugural day of school, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a robust array of resources aimed at enhancing the health, safety, and well-being of students throughout the city.
This initiative is rooted in Mayor Harrell’s August 2024 Executive Order focused on youth safety and is the result of a collaborative effort between the City and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) over the past year.
The plan follows a three-pronged strategy which includes school-based measures, violence intervention and community partnerships, alongside law enforcement support, all intended to foster a secure school environment, curb violence, and bolster mental health services for students.
Among the notable services introduced, all Seattle youth aged 13 to 24 now have access to free mental health therapy and resources.
In addition, over 40 new mental and behavioral health professionals have been employed across 21 SPS middle and high schools, augmenting the total staff providing on-campus mental health support to over 60 professionals.
Furthermore, community safety teams have been established in focus middle and high schools, offering a range of supportive services.
These teams will not only work on violence interruption within school premises but also nurture trusted adult relationships while providing safe passage for students outside of school grounds, thus mitigating the likelihood of student involvement in incidents of violence.
In an effort to enhance security, the Seattle Police Department is increasing patrols during key times—before school, during lunch, and after the final bell—as long as resources permit, around school campuses.
Additionally, SPS is set to implement a series of comprehensive safety measures across all schools, which includes a districtwide emergency notification system to coordinate responses across multiple sites during emergencies.
New installations of security enhancements—such as security cameras, door and intrusion alarms, and key card access at school entrances—are also on the agenda, along with escalated security staffing to ensure safe environments for students.
Mayor Harrell expressed his commitment to the future of Seattle’s youth by stating, “Our administration is committed to a great future for our city’s young people—providing the services and resources to keep them safe and support mental health.”
The Mayor further emphasized that these programs were crafted based on direct feedback from students and youth.
He proudly highlighted the mental health resources available to every young person up to age 24, alongside developments in safe street improvements and community safety investments that together aim to cultivate supportive environments for Seattle’s children.
Earlier in the year, Mayor Harrell unveiled the Every Child Ready Initiative and proposed the renewal of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise levy, which seeks to invest in health and safety services, double affordable childcare options, and expand the City’s prominent preschool and Seattle Promise programs.
Notably, last autumn, Seattle successfully executed 20 Safe Routes to School projects across the city, exceeding the transportation levy’s target of installing school-focused safety enhancements at every public school.
These improvements encompass various features, such as new sidewalks, accessible curb ramps, crosswalks, flashing beacons, traffic calming measures, and even student-led artwork to enhance visibility.
Thanks in part to the voter-backed 2024 transportation levy, Seattle is poised to allocate $14 million to sustain this momentum and deliver at least 70 additional Safe Routes to School projects by 2032.
In addition, the city plans to expand its automated school zone camera program, with 19 new locations set to go live this year.
Data indicates a significant impact, showing a 50% reduction in crashes throughout the day at schools equipped with cameras, an impressive 71% decline during drop-off and pickup times, and an observed trend that 90% of drivers who received a citation do not re-offend.
image source from：thefactsnewspaper
