The cost of both of these programs combined is a mere $9.4 million.  This cost will be more than made up for in the savings that will come from reduced absenteeism, increased school participation, increased graduation.  The saying that at ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure was never more meaningful then dealing with our city’s children, and their health and safety.

Education and the public schools have been a big focus recently.  Just a few months ago, the current mayor won election running, in part, on a platform that promised school reform.  No matter how much we reform the public schools and the Board of Education, our children will not learn if they are dodging bullets at school, or if they are staying at home sick because they do not have access to health care.

The social costs of school violence and lack of health care, as well as the actual costs to city agencies in dealing with the impact of these two issues, are just too great to ignore.  I challenge my colleagues in the City Council, and I challenge this new Mayor to step up and re-prioritize the budget to fund this vital need.  The city’s annual budget is around $3 billion dollars.  Applying three-tenths of one percent of that budget to insuring the safety and health of this city’s public school children is a small price to pay that will reap great rewards.

My staff has passed out a copy of the proposed ordinance as well as a copy of this statement.  I will answer any questions.