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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Our nation's future and well-being rely on a
3high-quality public education system that prepares all
4students for college, careers, citizenship, and lifelong
5learning; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Youth safety is of the utmost importance in
7schools and communities; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The academic success of students is affected by
9events that occur within and outside of school; and
 
10    WHEREAS, There is a growing concern regarding youth
11violence and safety within our schools and communities,
12including a most urgent and very present concern regarding gun
13violence in the south suburban area, with all three school
14districts in the south suburban area being affected by recent
15gun violence and gang behavior; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Schools serve as portals for opportunities to
17learn life skills, appropriate behavior, and how to make
18positive choices; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Educational personnel are often the primary
20sources of support, resources, and information that help

 

 

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1students and families, including assistance with mental,
2emotional, and physical health; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
4HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
5we urge the creation of a South Suburban Youth Coalition and
6Violence Prevention Task Force in collaboration with
7stakeholders from the represented communities as a concrete
8means of helping to address the growing concern of youth
9violence affecting the south suburban communities and schools
10connected with Bloom Township High School District 206,
11Crete-Monee Community Unit School District 201U, and Rich
12Township High School District 227; the school districts served
13by this coalition shall include Bloom Township High School
14District 206, Brookwood School District 167, Community
15Consolidated Schools District 168, Ford Heights School
16District 169, Chicago Heights School District 170, Steger
17School District 194, Cree-Monee Community Unit School District
18201U, Rich Township High School District 227, Elementary School
19District 159, Country Club Hills School District 160, Matteson
20School District 162, and Park Forest-Chicago Heights School
21District 163; and be it further
 
22    RESOLVED, That each district is strongly urged to provide
23education on the adverse and detrimental effects of student
24violence in our schools and communities by using existing

 

 

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1resources and staff, including teachers, deans, social
2workers, and psychologists; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That each district is strongly urged to create a
4proactive school district policy that addresses the growing
5issue of youth violence and focuses on problem-solving skills
6and conflict and dispute resolution skills for students in
7grades Pre-K through 12 and implements programs and strategies
8that encourage character building and are in alignment with the
9Illinois State Social and Emotional Learning Standards; the
10policy should provide for the professional development of
11teachers, administrators, support staff, board members, and
12parents concerning student violence within school, youth
13violence in the community, conflict and dispute resolution, and
14de-escalation tactics; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That each district is urged to create proactive
16solutions to student violence within schools, including the use
17of peer mediation, school counseling, incident reporting, and
18school assemblies that address student-to-student violence,
19gun violence, and overall school safety; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That each district is urged to partner with the
21South Suburban Youth Coalition and Violence Prevention Task
22Force and applicable stakeholders, including law enforcement
23agencies, municipal leaders, and youth organizations, to

 

 

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1develop solutions to eliminate youth violence in schools and
2communities; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That each district is urged to post this
4resolution on every school site, distribute it to district
5staff, students, and parents, and have it read and voted upon
6at the most immediately available school board meeting and be
7translated into all languages currently spoken by students and
8parents within the south suburban area; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
10presented to the superintendent of Bloom Township High School
11District 206, the superintendent of Crete-Monee Community Unit
12School District 201U, the superintendent of Rich Township High
13School District 227, the superintendent of Brookwood School
14District 167, the superintendent of Community Consolidated
15Schools District 168, the superintendent of Ford Heights School
16District 169, the superintendent of Chicago Heights School
17District 170, the superintendent of Steger School District 194,
18the superintendent of Elementary School District 159, the
19superintendent of County Club Hills School District 160, the
20superintendent of Matteson School District 162, and the
21superintendent of Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District
22163.