Introduction to Safe Passage Program
Levella Wallace was at her post as a Safe Passage worker at Kelvyn Park High School on Chicago’s Northwest Side last month when she said she saw a stranger following a student outside the school. The man fled when he spotted Wallace in her neon safety vest, she said, adding that it’s not the first time her presence has deterred potential bad actors in the neighborhood. She wonders what would have happened if she hadn’t been watching.
Concerns Over Potential Cuts
As Chicago Public Schools tackles a $529 million budget deficit with no clear solution, Safe Passage workers like Wallace are concerned that the program — which provides supervision for students as they walk to and from school — might be facing cuts. Safe Passage workers are hired through community organizations and CPS is reviewing all vendor contracts to see if they can find “efficiencies.” Cuts to Safe Passage would be a mistake, they say, because while safety is the main objective, the program also increases school attendance and helps build community. It’s also a source of stable employment for local residents like Wallace. “It would hurt a lot if the program was cut,” Wallace said.
Community Impact and Rally
Safe Passage worker Mignonna Leflore helps students cross the street on June 5 outside George W. Tilton Elementary School at 223 N. Keeler Ave. Last month, Safe Passage organizations rallied outside the Chicago Board of Education Board’s monthly meeting in the Loop, calling on funding to be protected as the budget gets hammered out. Among the organizations was the Alliance for Community Peace, a nonprofit that works with city youth, primarily on the South Side.
Program History and Funding
The Rev. Phyllis Harrell, CEO of the nonprofit, said two years ago they worked with 120 Safe Passage employees at a range of schools, but that has fallen to about 80. Harrell said that’s because funding has declined in recent years. CPS planned to spend about $22 million on Safe Passage in the school year that just ended, down from $30 million in the 2023-24 school year and about $28 million in 2022-2023. The Safe Passage program began with 35 schools in 2009. It was launched after the beating death that year of Christian Fenger Academy High School sophomore Derrion Albert, who was killed while walking home from school.
Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness
A 2020 study in the journal of public economics found that blocks patrolled by community monitors experienced a 17% decline in crime compared to nearby blocks without street monitors. The study also found that non-monitored blocks adjacent to Safe Passage routes also experience a decline of about 8% in crimes when workers are present. And by analyzing the cost of employing civilian monitors versus hiring police officers, the study concluded that “the Safe Passage program is a cost-effective means to reduce crime near schools.”
Positive Effects on School Attendance
Other studies have found that the Safe Passage program also has a positive effect on school attendance as it makes students feel safer in and out of class. Marcela Rodriguez is co-executive director of Enlace Chicago, a Little Village community organization, which has 57 Safe Passage workers spread across 16 schools on the Southwest Side. She understands CPS’ financial situation predicament and that it needs to prioritize, but she says it should focus on programs like Safe Passage that work. “So I’m hoping that they continue to think about evidence-based programs that bring this kind of safety to the community and continue their commitment,” Rodriguez said.
Safe Passage worker Patricia Holmes waves as she walks outside Ida B. Wells Elementary School, 249 E 37th St., on June 12.
Community and Worker Impact
Wallace asked district leaders to consider more than just the cost of the program and consider the social bonds it builds within the community. “They should think about how we have impacted our students, and how they have impacted us,” Wallace said. Many of the workers live in the communities they monitor, providing jobs for local residents. They are on duty five hours a day, five days a week during the school year and earn the city minimum wage of $16.20 an hour. Though Wallace, who has been a worker for 12 years, doesn’t live in the Kelvyn Park High School area, the job is the main way she earns money for her family. Losing that job would hurt, she said. “It would affect me being able to have financial stability for my own family,” Wallace said.
Conclusion
The Safe Passage program has been a vital component of Chicago’s efforts to ensure student safety and community engagement. With its proven track record of reducing crime and improving school attendance, it is essential that the program continues to receive funding. The community and the workers themselves are advocating for the protection of this program, highlighting its importance beyond just financial considerations.
FAQs
- Q: What is the Safe Passage program?
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