NEXT MONTH MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ALBERTO
CARVALHO WILL CELEBRATE TEN YEARS OF LEADING THE NATION'S
FOURTH LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT.
DURING THAT TIME, HE HAS BEEN A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR SCHOOL
CHOICE, MORE TECHNOLOGY, AND STRONG TEACHERS.
SINCE THE TRAGEDY AT PARKLAND, HE HAS BEEN A CONTINUED
SUPPORTER OF STUDENT-LED ACTIVISM, STANDING WITH HIS
STUDENTS AS THEY PROTESTED GUN VIOLENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
I SAT DOWN WITH MR.
CARVALHO TO HEAR HOW THE DISTRICT IS
MANAGING SCHOOL SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR STUDENTS, AND
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR HIM IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE AS WE STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR WE
ACCOMPLISH THREE THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, ESTABLISH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR KIDS BUT IT IS
NOT SO IN YOUR FACE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY DISRUPTIVE.
I THINK KIDS OUGHT TO GO TO SCHOOL IN A WAY THAT THEY FEEL
THEY'RE WELCOMED.
THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN.
AND THE SAFE AND SECURITY ELEMENTS ARE THERE BUT THEY ARE
NOT SO EVIDENT TO THEM THAT IT SCARES THEM.
SECONDLY, WE WANTED TO TAKE ALL OF THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS SO
WE SPENT THE SUMMER NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS WITH DIFFERENT CITIES,
MUNICIPALS IN THE COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT WE WOULD HAVE A LAW
ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED ENTITY ASSIGNED TO
EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL.
IT SEEMED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT ON
TIME.
WE CAME BACK INTO A SCHOOL YEAR WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS
MIND THE CURTAIN THAT ADDS TO THE SAFETY ENVELOPE THAT PA
PARENTS, SECT TO HAVE FOR SCHOOLS.
NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT DETECTS WHO IS COMING IN THE SCHOOL VIA
THEIR OWN I.D.
CARDS, SCANNING THOSE AGAINST THE DATABASES FOR
A SEX PREDATOR.
WE INSTALLED OVER 3,000 SAFETY CAMERAS, HIGH DEFINITION FOR
TOTAL OF 15,000 CAMERAS CENTRALLY LINKED INTO A COMMAND
CENTER ALLOWING US TO HAVE EYES ON EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL 24-7.
TECHNOLOGY THAT TROLLED SOCIAL MEDIA SITES FOR THREATENING
IMAGES OR MESSAGES AND WE INVESTIGATE THOSE.
WE SAW THEY HAD A LOT OF UPGRADES THAT THEY DID TO THE
SCHOOL WITH SECURITY ALSO THAT SINGLE POINT OF ENTRY.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL NEEDS TO BE DONE AT MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE, BUT WE SHOULD NEVER FEEL SO
COMFORTABLE IN A PLACE THAT WE'RE IN THAT WE FORGET TO
CONDUCT RISK ASSESSMENTS AND LEARN FROM OTHER EXPERIENCES AND
IMPROVE UPON THEM.
WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE $1.2 BILLION REFERENDUM THAT WE HAVE
BEEN INSTITUTING MAY CONSIDERABLE MODIFICATIONS OVER
THE SUMMER ALONE.
ABOUT $130 MILLION OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THE VAST MAJORITY TO ADD 4,000 SCHOOLS BUT ALSO SIGNIFICANT
MODIFICATIONS IN TERMS OF REINFORCED FENCING, NARROWING
THE POINTS OF ENTRY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A GREATER HOLD ON
EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL GUARANTEEING THAT KIDS ARE SAFE AND TEACHERS
ARE SAFE.
SO, YES, WE MADE THOSE SAME TYPES OF IN PROGRAMS IN SOME
CASES THAT WERE VERY NOTICEABLE IN MANY CASES IT'S BUSINESS AS
USUAL FROM HA THAT DINNER GARTER SHOWS UP FEELS THAT ANXIETY,
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT.
THE STATE PROVIDED $97 MILLION FOR SAFETY BUT YOU SAID
BEFORE THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
TALK ABOUT THE MONEY PORTION OF MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THIS IS
SUSTAINABLE ESPECIALLY HAVING THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
ON OUR CAMPUSES.
THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG DEBATES THAT WE HAVE FACED IN THE RECENT
PAST, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
WHEN YOU DIVIDE $9 MILLION ACROSS THE STATE ON A PRO RATE
THAT SHARE SPECIFIC TO STUDENT MEMBERSHIP, THEN OUR ALLOCATION
IN TERMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTS ABOUT $10 MILLION.
ONCE YOU DEDUCT THE PASS THROUGH TO CHARTER SCHOOLS WHICH WAS
$MILLION WE RETAIN $8 MILLION.
THAT IS TOTALLY INSUFFICIENT TO GUARANTEE THE PROFESSIONAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL.
THAT IS WHY RATHER THAN IS GOING OUT AND HIRING AN INDIVIDUAL
OFFICER FOR EVERY SCHOOL WE DECIDED TO IN A VERY CREATIVE
WAY ENTER INTO MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH MUNICIPAL
LEADERS.
AS A COMMUNITY WE WERE ABLE TO ARRIVE AT A POINT WHERE THE
DEPLOYMENT WAS NOT ONLY SE SEAMLESS, EFFECTIVE AND
UNIVERSAL.
SO AS A COMMUNITY THE CHIEFS OF POLICE, THE MAYORS, THE SCHOOL
BOARD, MYSELF WE COMMITTED TO DRAFTING A JOINT PLATFORM
ADVOCACY POINTS FOR TALLAHASSEE WE APPROACHED TALLAHASSEE WITH
THE SAME ASK FOR US TO ENSURE THAT THE LONG TERM PLAN IS
INDEED FUNDED.
NOW AFTER ALL THIS FOCUS ON SECURITY, THE SUPERINTENDENT
SAYS IT IS TIME THE DISTRICT FOCUS ITS ATTENTION BACK ON THE
CLASSROOM GIVING THE STUDENTS A SENSE OF NORMALCY AND
ENVIRONMENT THAT FEELS SAFE AND FROSTs FOSTERS LEARNING.
PARENTS WANT TO KNOW MY KID GOES TO A GOOD SCHOOL, IN A GOOD
SCHOOL SYSTEM, THEY ARE SAFE AND SECURE THAT LEADS THROUGH
INNOVATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENT IN TEACHING AND LEARNING.
THIS YEAR WE KICKED OFF WITH 66 NEW EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS,
MAGNATE PROGRAMS, ANYTHING FROM ROBOTICS TO VIRTUAL REALITY,
UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR ALL CODING, COMPUTER CODING FOR KIDS IN
MIAMI-DADE.
MY BASIC PHILOSOPHY THEORY OF ACTION IS EQUITY AND ACCESS
REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE.
HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY KID REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD MAY BE.
THE 305 IN MIAMI-DADE AND CONSIDERING THE ACADEMIC
ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT TEACHERS ARE PRODUCING IT'S ONE THAT I
THINK WE CAN GUARANTEE.
THE OTHER BIG PART OF THE MARJORIE STONE MAN DOUGLAS HIGH
SCHOOL PUBLIC SAFETY ACT WAS THE MENTAL HEALTH PORTION.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN
PLACE HERE IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY RELATED TO THAT.
ONE OF THOSE IS CALLED EDGE, IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM MORE OR
LESS THAT IS IN NINE MIDDLE SCHOOLS HERE IN THE COUNTY.
TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT PROGRAM IS.
WELL, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM SPECIFIC TO MIDDLE
SCHOOL-AGED KIDS, APPROPRIATE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT CATCHES KIDS
DURING A CHRON LODGAL AGE SHIFT.
-- CHRONOLOGICAL, AS A PARENT, AS AS TEACHER YOU KNOW WHAT A 12
12, 13-YEAR-OLD KID CAN BE.
THEY NEED IT FIRST.
PART OF OUR REINVENTION, REDESIGNING OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS
INCORPORATED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
THE CULTURAL SKILLS THAT KIDS MUST HAVE TO REALLY DEVELOP
THEMSELVES INTELLECTUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY IN A WAY THAT IS
HEALTHY.
WE CREATED THIS YEAR WITH STATE FUNDING THE FIRST EVER IN THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.
FOCUSING ON A MULTI-TIERED APPROACH TO KIDS WHO MAY EXHIBIT
BEHAVIOR THAT MAY BE DE DESTRUCTIVE, CERTAIN IDEATION
AND NEGATIVE TENDENCIES.
OUR ABILITY TO TRAIN BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND KIDS ON THE
IDENTIFICATION OF THESE KIDS, SECONDLY THE REFERRAL SYSTEM TO
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS INSIDE SCHOOLS.
WE HIRED IN EXCESS OF 60 NEW MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
WE'RE STILL DOING IT.
ALSO THE LAST TIER IS THE REFERRAL OF THESE KIDS ALONGSIDE
THEIR FAMILIES TO OUTSIDE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO
PROVIDE AN ECHO OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT BEYOND THE
SCHOOL HOUSE.
WE AS A NATION NEED TO BE MORE ACCEPTING OF THE FACT THAT
MENTAL ILLNESS, MENTAL CHALLENGES SHOULD NOT BE
DEMONIZED.
WE ACCEPT A TOOTH ACHE, A HEADACHEA BROKEN ARM.
BUT WE ARE SO, SO AFRAID IN CONDEMNING OF HELP TALL ISSUES.
WE NEED TO ACCEPT THEM AND WE NEED TO BE AGE TO IDENTIFY THEM
EARLY ON IF WE ARE TO ADDRESS THEM.
AND THIS YEAR WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM ON THE
TRAINING OF INDIVIDUALS, THE SENSITIZATION NECESSARY TO NOT
DEMONIZE THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR, TO REALLY LOOK AT IT AS A HEALTH
CARE ISSUE.
THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED AND TREATED.
SEE THE SCHOOL AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR KIDS.
SEE THE COUNSELORS, SEE THE SOCIAL WORKERS, SEE THE SCHOOL
PSYCHOLOGIST F. WE CANNOT SOLVE THE ISSUE IN SCHOOL WE CAN REFER
THE CHILD AND FAMILY TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS OFTEN FOR FREE TO
ADDRESS THOSE SPECIFIC ISSUES.
WHAT DOUGH WANT.
FROM LEDGING INSIDE TO ACTIVISM IN THE STREETS.
THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS, THE VOICES OF YOUNG PEOPLE SEEKING
CHANGE SHOULD NEVER BE DISREGARDED OR SUPPRESSED.
AFTER PARKLAND HAPPENED WE SPOKE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE
STUDENTS AND HOW THEY ROSE UP AND THEY MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD
AFTER WHAT HAPPENED.
WE SAW STUDENTS AT NORTHWESTERN HIGH COME OUT WHEN THERE WAS A
SHOOTING IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND ONE OF THE STUDENTS A 10th
GRADE ARE AN HONOR STUDENT WAS KILLED.
THEY MARCHED.
THEY CAME OUT SAID ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
WHAT I THINK WE NOTICE PARTICULARLY IN MIAMI-DADE EVEN
THOUGH WHAT HAPPENS IN LIBERTY CITY AND OTHER PARTS OF OUR
COMMUNITY, RESIDENTS OF PARKLAND WHERE IN SIX MINUTES KIDS AND
TEACHERS LOST THEIR LIVES.
BUT WE SEE THAT HAPPEN HERE OVER DAYS.
THE HUMAN TOLL IS THE SAME ON THE STREETS OF MIAMI WHEN YOU
LOOK AT IT.
SO I THINK THAT THOSE KIDS WERE SAYING IS, WE EXPERIENCE OUR OWN
TRAGEDY AND OUR OWN MASSACRE EVERY SINGLE DAY, THE FEAR IS
TANGIBLE, THE FEAR IS THERE.
I'M GOING TO MARCH FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE MY FRIEND LOST HIS LIFE.
AND HE WAS IN THE CLASSROOM, THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER
OUTSIDE.
HE WAS IN HIS OWN HOME.
IN HIS OWN STREET.
SO THE KIDS OF MIAMI-DADE WERE MARCHING IS SAYING OUR DIGNITY,
OUR HUMANITY, OUR LIVES ARE IMPORTANT IN SCHOOL, OUTSIDE OF
SCHOOL.
WE NEED TO FEEL PROTECTED.
AND GREAT QUITE FRANKLY TO SEE THE KIDS FROM PARK LAND COMING
TO MIAMI THEN ALL OF THEM GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO TESTIFY
ON WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY A HUMAN RIGHT TO LIFE.
ONE THAT CANNOT BE DENIED.
SO I LEARNED A COUPLE OF THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, NEVER GET IN THE WAY OF THE VOICE OF A TEENAGER, YOU
WILL LOSE.
AND AMERICA SHOULD KNOW BETTER.
SO, I WAS WITH THEM SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEM, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER,
EYE TO EYE, HEART TO HEART WITH MY KIDS.
BECAUSE I KNOW THEIR PAIN IS REAL.
THEIR PAIN IS TANGIBLE.
AND THEY OUGHT TO HAVE HIGHER EXPECTATIONS OF US, THE ADULTS.
I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR.
THEY WERE SAYING, YOU NEED TO DO MORE.
WE DIDN'T BRING OURSELVES ON TO THIS WORLD, THESE ARE PROBLEMS
NOT OF OUR MAKING SO SOLVE THEM.
MEET US HALF WAY.
YOU CLEARLY LOVE YOUR KIDS.
YOU WERE ON THE BRINK OF TAKING A JOB IN NEW YORK AS THE HEAD OF
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM THERE AS SUMS BUT YOU MADE AN AN
ANNOUNCEMENT SAID I COULDN'T BREAK A PROMISE TO THE CHILD.
YOU STAYED IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE FOR YOU TO DO HERE, NEXT MONTH YOU WILL HAVE
BEEN IN THIS POSITION FOR TEN YEARS.
THAT'S RIGHT.
SO, WHAT'S NEXT, MR.
SUPERINTENDENT?
WILL YOU BE RUNNING FOR OFFICE POSSIBLY?
I'VE BEEN ASKED THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR I CAN TELL YOU I AM
NOT INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE AT THIS POINT.
IT'S NOT IN THE CARDS FOR ME.
INASMUCH AS WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT WE HAVE NOT DONE IT ALL FOR
ALL. AND, YES, I'M PROUD OF THE FACT
THAT OUR GRADUATION RATE IS AT 84%.
I AM FOCUSED ON THE 16% WHO HAVE NOT GRADUATED, BY THE WAY, IT IS
GENERATIONAL IN NATURE FROM THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS IMPACTING THE
SAME KIDS OR THEIR PARENTS.
I NEED TO FIX THAT.
I NEED TO BRING A LEVEL, A PLAYING FIELD TO EVERY SINGLE
NEIGHBORHOOD THE SAME TYPE OF HIGH QUALITY PROGRAM AND OFFERS
FOR EVERY KID.
I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT BEYOND THE GRADUATION THERE IS
POST-SECONDARY PLACEMENT FOR EVERY SINGLE KID.
AND FOR AS LONG OR AS LONG AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, IT
IS POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN MI MIAMI-DADE ALLOW ME AND MY TEAM
TO DO THIS GREAT WORK ALONGSIDE THE BOARD, I'LL BE HERE FOR THE
LONG HAUL.
I HAVE A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
I LOVE THE KIDS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I LOVE OUR COMMUNITY, PERIOD.
WE'RE PROVING A POINT, IN THE MIDDLE OF VERY NOISY, TERRIBLE
POLITICAL CONFRONTATION AND HYPOCRISY AND CONDEMNATION, THIS
VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY, A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS, A LOT OF SPICE, A
LOT OF COLOR, A LOT OF POVERTY BUT ALSO A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE PROVING TO AMERICA THAT WE ARE THE NEW AMERICAN CITY.
WE'RE R DREAMS ARE BEING REALIZED AND MADE EVERY SINGLE
DAY.
WHERE THE PERFORMANCE IS BETTER THAN AMERICA'S PERFORMANCE.
THAT STIMULATES MY PRESENCE RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR ABSOLUTELY
THE RIGHT KIDS AND THE MOST VIBRANT COMMUNITY IN AMERICA.