The Board of Education Decries Gun Violence and Calls for Collective Action to Safeguard Communities

The Board of Education is outraged and disheartened that children and adults continue to be the innocent victims of  gun violence in Philadelphia on a nearly daily basis. The tragic and senseless shootings that happen in neighborhoods throughout the city, indelibly harm our school communities in myriad ways – taking lives, traumatizing survivors and threatening our collective wellbeing.

This epidemic of gun violence reminds the Board that our mission is not only to educate our children and prepare them for college and careers, but also to provide safe, welcoming and healthy learning spaces. Our vision to ensure that all our learners are given an education that allows them to thrive, succeed and lead in a global society is embodied in our Goals & Guardrails strategic plan, which is a student-centered approach to educating our learners.

However, if we want our students to learn, thrive and succeed, then we must ensure they are safe and physically and emotionally healthy, so they are ready to learn – wherever they are but especially as they go to and from school. The School District has put in place a number of measures to address safe passage to and from school; however, addressing gun violence requires a coordinated, comprehensive response.

“It is our collective responsibility to come together and serve as a village for our children to support, educate, protect and inspire them to reach their greatest potential – especially when they face daunting challenges to their success and well-being,” said Board President Reginald L. Streater, Esq. “It is imperative that everyone in the city – government leaders, law enforcement officials, educators, the business community and healthcare professionals – comes together to devise effective ways to end this gun violence that is destroying communities.”