Wilkinson on school safety transparency (off-topic)

Hi, good afternoon, Chair Brewer and the Committee on Governmental Operations, State and Federal Legislation.

I really appreciate all of your time.

I'm a mother, I'm a healthcare provider here in Manhattan, also a mandated reporter.

And much of my concern, along with many parents, leaders, teachers, healthcare providers as well, and most importantly, our students, our children.

Speak and ask for your support for further enforcing what I would suggest is a safety transparency and accountability act.

However, that could be implemented because at this time, there's not much enforcement for leaderships of schools.

To be as transparent with parents or guardians when it comes to

acts towards their children, when the students are reporting certain incidences that are concerning their mental and their physical health or harm or any threats.

This includes sexual harassment, bullying,

discrimination, threats, breaking of personal property, physical assault.

There's a lack of accountability.

There's not transparency involved.

Much often the students are silenced.

Most often the parents are left out of any of the reporting itself until they find out

through their children or other students or other parents.

And when you come as

together as a community to try to hold accountability when certain behaviors and incidences continue to escalate where there's physical harm, there's threats, and there's ethical and legal

dispute that isn't being accountable or anything taking place.

For disciplinary action, rightfully so, either with a student who is in question or with a student leadership or staff member.

And most often, this is just silencing our students and leaving the parents and communities helpless when they are reporting and asking for assistance in keeping their kids safe.

All right.

When it comes to all...

No, keep going, keep going.

This is not on the agenda today, so we're letting you finish, but I just want to make sure you know that.

Go ahead.

I appreciate your time, absolutely.

Thank you so much.

This is not just one time.

This is across the board of our city.

It's across the board of our state.

It is across the board.

Federally as well.

There are acts in place, there are laws in place, anti-bullying, sexual harassment.

Therefore, there are no transparency and enforcement when things are not getting reported and children are at risk and are being harmed and their safety.

Another thing that I'd like to mention is when we have youth officers on board with our schools, whether there's lack of staffing,

or for any reason that they get involved in a school related in the school.

Thank you very much.

We have to go to the next, all right?

But thank you very much for being here.

The next is Justinino Gianvanis.