The superintendent recognized that making schools safer can’t be entirely achieved with money, however. Other aspects – including mentors, mental health counseling and discipline practices – also contribute, he said.
“How do we create a culture where all students are truly, truly being nurtured? And how do they truly engage (in the) learning process?” Daniel asked. “Ultimately, that’s our final goal.”
That’s why about a dozen people – including officials from the city police department, Fort Wayne United, the faith community and the judicial system – joined Daniel at the late-morning news conference in the Grile Administrative Center. They represented a portion of people FWCS has assembled in recent months to address safety in school spaces, including classrooms, hallways, parking lots and buses.
“These are discussions that have to involve all the various groups that you’re seeing here today,” Daniel said. “It has to if we’re going to create some type of significant, significant change in Fort Wayne and hopefully greater Fort Wayne.”
Lewis King, coordinator of Fort Wayne United’s Ten Point Coalition, said he champions the call to come together. The effort includes more than just addressing safety issues.
“Our children are the focal point of all of this,” King said. “When we talk about violence, how are we as a community going to come together to be able to meet the needs of our children that are struggling right now? We have a lot of struggling going on in our homes, and it takes collaborative effort from everyone.”
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