Title
Social Worker Position at Annapolis High School - For the purpose of requesting the Anne Arundel County Council to increase the Annapolis High School budget to fund a second social worker.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 25-24
Introduced by: Alderwoman Pindell Charles
A RESOLUTION concerning
Social Worker Position at Annapolis High School
FOR the purpose of requesting the Anne Arundel County Council to increase the Annapolis High School budget to fund a second social worker.
WHEREAS, The City of Annapolis offers initiatives and opportunities for Annapolis high school students under the auspices of Annapolis United and No Harm VIP. These initiatives include resource events, teen nights, community interventions, field trips and others, and they have provided vitally needed opportunities for our students, particularly after school, on the weekends, during the holidays, and during the summers in the form of the City's Summer Internship programs; and
WHEREAS, The tragic shooting on Friday, May 3rd, of three students aged 12 and 13 as they were getting off their school bus in the Bywater neighborhood of Annapolis is yet another reminder, one of all too many, of the trauma and fear so many of our students face every day in their communities; and
WHEREAS, Isolating students at home, coupled with fear and trauma, does not support the social and emotional growth that students need to have to grow and thrive in school and achieve academic success; and
WHEREAS, Annapolis High School is part of Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), which is now in the hands of the Anne Arundel County Council as they deliberate on the final budget, with the vote expected in June; and
WHEREAS, Annapolis High has requested for years an additional Social Worker. The current Social Worker at Annapolis High serves over 2,000 students, and among her many other duties, however, she must provide passes for students to attend No Harm VIP events during school hours and make additional arrangements to facilitate those programs when necessary; and
WHEREAS, Adding an extra social worker at Annapolis High School would directly impact our students and significantly enhance AACPS's ability to partner with No Harm and other City programs, fostering a more supportive and nurturing environment for our students;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Council supports the addition of a second social worker for Annapolis High School as part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools budget.
AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this resolution shall take effect upon passage.