They are there - rain, shine, hot, cold, and if it snowed in East Orlando, well, they’d still be there. They are there Monday through Friday insuring the safety of any child who comes along to walk, ride or even skip across the street. Crossing Guards are the dedicated people, making sure that all school children make it safely from their home to their school and then back again. But what does being a crossing guard really mean, other than a bright orange vest and a stop sign?

Bertis Negron, school crossing guard coordinator for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, says that the average crossing guards day consists of an hour in the morning at their crossing location, and an hour in the afternoon at the same spot. Most of them go home during that time while the students they serve are in school. While a large portion of the crossing guards in the county are retired citizens, ages range from 21-88 years of age, and a majority consider their Crossing Guard position as their primary job. “Before it was probably a second part-time job, but it’s become a primary job for a majority of them,” Negron says. “Especially with the financial state we’re in.”

There are over 300 crossing guards in the county, about 30 of which serve in the East Orlando area. Becoming a Crossing Guard is no quick and easy task, as it is important that those filling the position are well suited to protect children of all ages. After applying online, crossing guards have a phone interview, go through a background check, and then the fun starts.

After a personal interview with Negron and getting their fingerprints done, potential Crossing Guards head to get their hearing, vision and physical ability tests completed. “Once they pass that, then we go ahead and set them up for the next available training,” Negron says. Training lasts about six hours and covers how do the job, and even includes an assimilation of crossing. “This helps them get familiar with crossing without the students before going out to an actual crossing,” he says. And after an hour with their trainer at the actual site they’ll be stationed at, the Crossing Guard has become the Crossing Guard.

Just like a student, Crossing Guards have off on holidays and spring break and at the end of the school year, they get to enjoy their summers. “They sign a contract when they get hired, and at the end of the school year that contract expires,” Negron says. “We either renew their contract or we don’t or they quit. But I’d say 95 percent of the people return back.”

Such a large portion of Crossing Guards come back because they more often than not love what they do. “They see that they can do something for their community and help the children,” Negron says. “They love children and want to keep them safe and that’s what attracts them to the job.”  And most of them are extremely good at their job. “We have lots and lots of guards who are very, very dedicated,” Negron says. “They never call in and they’re always at work. They’re just very dedicated to their kids.”

Not only do Crossing Guards help protect children as they cross the street, but they also inform the school of anything they see or hear from a child that may insinuate danger for the students. “Whatever happens at that crossing while they’re on duty, they have a responsibility to report it to us and the school,” Negron says.

“They’re the extra ears and eyes in the neighborhood,” Negron says. And with them on our side, community children are certainly in good hands.

Article by Katelyn Schmidt

What comes to mind first when you think Public Safety? Are you getting visions of fire trucks with engines screaming? How many public buildings do you visit every day? Are you considering building safety when public fees are brought up? Public safety involves prevention and protection from events that can cause harm to the general public, whether they are natural or manmade disasters.

Collecting fees to support safety services have a long history. Florida’s 27^th Governor, Frederick P. Cone, created the Florida Highway Patrol during his term which ran from 1937 to 1941. Fees assessed on Driver’s Licenses were used to fund the Patrol.

Today however, public safety fees come in a variety of flavors. Check out your itemized cell or landline phone bills and you may find a state law sanctioned public safety fee used to fund 911 Communication Centers. Almost all law enforcement and fire safety agencies in our area charge fees for a wide variety of services - from providing copies of reports to false alarms response costs and everything in between. General taxes also include fees to support protection of the community’s citizens. Code Enforcement, Animal Control, Environmental Protection, even Orange County Corrections, generates revenue through administration of individual fee schedules produced by the County Administrator’s office.

Significant fees are also tied to assuring building safety.  Orange County’s Department of Building Safety is responsible for assuring buildings are safe through enforcement of building regulations which have a complex schedule of charges attached. Allen Morton, assistant manager with the department advised that their team is responsible for assuring at least minimum code compliance and life safety features. Inspections are conducted at various stages of each development generated by a call from the building project’s contractor.

Life safety features include items like exit signage and lighting, fire protective signalization, photo luminescent emergency lighting, handicap accessibility, sprinkler systems and elevator shunt trips to mention only a few of the compliance checkpoints. In the 2009/2010 budget report, the Department of Building Safety performed an estimated 275,000 inspections for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work.

“All fees are directed back to the department. We are self sufficient,” says Morton. Considering that in the 2009/2010 budget revenue dropped by 46 percent from the previous year due, this is quite an impressive feat.

“I knew that we had fees for everything relating to public safety, but it’s just not something I typically think about,” says Kellie Avery of Lake Nona. “For me, if we have to pay a little bit out of our pockets in the form of tax dollars to protect our families, buildings or what have you, I’m fine with that. What’s more important than our safety?”

With counties and cities across the country losing revenue from property taxes due to a tanked economy, more departments are using fee structures to independently sustain their organizations and provide needed services to citizens. Legislation like Florida Statute 938.27, which holds convicted persons liable for investigative and prosecution costs, has spawned businesses to act as collection agencies for fees - particularly in the area of false alarms.

Are fees a necessary evil? As Commissioner Mignon Clyburn of South Carolina expressed so eloquently during a speech at the recent Orlando-based Women in Public Safety Leadership Conference, “The more a local public safety agency reflects the diversity of its local community, the better prepared that agency is to serve the public safety needs of its citizens,” she says. “Such an agency can better react to situations, and be better equipped to calm an individual who is desperate for help.”

Public safety equates to being both proactive and responsive to matters of life and death; food for thought next time you renew your driver’s license.

Article by Monica King

The school year is winding down and with summer right around the corner, parents everywhere are searching for the right summer camp for their child. Identifying the perfect summer camp for your child can be challenging, but taking a few basic factors into consideration can make the selection process much simpler.

The first choice to consider is whether an overnight camp or a day camp is suitable. Overnight camps nurture independence skills while giving children a vacation-like experience. But, day camps can give children a similar experience while allowing them to come home at the end of the day to share their experiences with family and friends.

Ask yourself what’s most important to you and your child.  Are you looking for a camp that offers an educational experience or one that gives them the opportunity to unwind?  What about specialty camps? Options here include sports, computers, the arts and more.

What about field trips? Horizons are expanded when children are given the opportunity to visit places of interest around their community. Field trips should be age appropriate and relevant. You’ll want to find out ahead of time where the camp plans to take children and if there are any additional costs.

Speaking of field trips, how are the children transported?  Find out if the camp has their own buses; whether they will be outsourcing or if they’re asking parents to car pool. If the camp has their own bus, ask how often the bus is inspected, who drives it and what type of training they have.

The quality of the camp staff can make a huge difference in the type of experience your child will have. Do they enjoy working with school-aged children? Have they worked with that age group previously?  Ask how long each of the camp counselors has been employed. Look for a camp that has highly qualified staff and conducts background checks and training regularly.

Before choosing, you’ll also want to ask about the discipline policy and how conflicts between campers are handled. You should feel comfortable that the camp’s practices are in line with your family’s values. If your child has special needs, you will certainly want to ask how the camp plans to accommodate them.

Finally, ask the camp for references. A good camp will have families that return annually. These parents are usually more than happy to serve as a reference. If you can, visit the camp ahead of time with your child to ensure both of you feel comfortable with the camp environment and staff. Like most decisions that affect you and your family, you’ll know when it feels right.

Article by Tracy Musgrave

Summer in Orlando brings a host of new opportunities and challenges. The kids are out of school, the weather is sunny (except for those pesky afternoon showers), and the tourism dollars start flowing. However, the weather can bring some unwanted dangers as well. Here are some typical Florida concerns and ways to stay safe during the summer.

While Swimming:

Summer is the perfect time to head for the water. While Orlando itself does not have beaches, there are plenty of local alternatives like a YMCA pool or local campground.

• Florida is a leader in child drowning. The good news is that drowning under the age of 18 has been reduced drastically by 73% and continues to decrease over time with proper swim education.
• If your child is younger than five years old, make sure they know how to survive in the water. Many local facilities offer classes at reasonable prices.
• Always be aware of your surroundings. Crowded swimming environments make it tough to watch out for each other, so go somewhere that isn’t as densely populated.

During Bad Weather:

The Sunshine State is great to travel to in the summer time, but with the summer time comes hurricane season and afternoon rain. This summer alone, it is predicted that we’ll have six to eight hurricanes, and 90 percent of these hurricanes will make landfall.

• Teach safety measures during severe weather. Once you hear thunder, it’s time to get out of the water.
• If you’re not near a safe building to enter, retreat to an open area and crouch as low as possible.

While Visiting Attractions:

Did you know that about 17 million people visited Disney’s Magic Kingdom in 2008? Visiting the area attractions is one of the main reasons people come to Orlando. Even at the happiest place on Earth, there are some dangers to be aware of.

• Make sure nothing in your car is visible. Orlando averaged about 1,689 auto theft incidents between 2008 and 2009, all of which range from breaking into cars for items, to total car theft. If possible, stash valuables in your trunk. Out of sight equals out of mind.
• Consider dressing up the family in a similar and bright shirt. Take note of the color your family members are wearing, as this will make it easier to spot them out of a crowd.

A lot of these tips are common knowledge, but without some statistical backing, many residents overestimate their safety during their travels. By keeping these guidelines in mind, you too can get the most out of your vacation.

Article by Amanda Ferencz

Orange County Government spends $400 million on public safety programs for citizens, $150 million on corrections and jail operations, $185 million goes to the sheriff’s office and $150 million is allocated for the fire department. Together this amount accounts for $885 million of the $3.1 billion total budget for Orange County.

Keeping citizens safe is a fundamental function of government, and making the investment in people, training and proper equipment is essential for maintaining the public sense of safety.  For the past year, I’ve spent Friday mornings learning more about the departments within Orange County Government and its partners. I’ve had the opportunity to visit multiple agencies; but perhaps more importantly, I’ve heard directly from the leaders in charge that if we want to find real solutions then we must go to the core of the problem.

We spend $885 million on public safety in Orange County, yet what we spend on supporting programs and issues such as access to healthcare, homeless help, domestic and sexual violence programs, senior care and drug rehabilitation are such a very small piece of our $3.1 billion pie.

It’s the organizations that receive the smallest piece of the pie that I believe have the biggest potential impact on keeping the public safe. I recently spent some time at the Cherokee School near downtown Orlando and saw firsthand the important role this school plays in helping our at-risk youth (some as young as 6-years-old) work through what life has dealt them .  I’ve had several lengthy conversations with Corrections Officers and truly believe that if we can concentrate on the fundamental problems, we can have an impact.

The county jail also hosts a number of necessary programs to help those in need ranging from drug abuse treatment to domestic violence counseling and even technical and basic social skills training programs that that help inmates become productive pieces of the community upon re-entry.

Programs like these are critical in keeping our communities safe, because they address the root cause of the issues the inmates and students face. These programs help rehabilitate in an effort to keep the re-incarceration rate down. Despite repeat offenders, if the time between incarceration periods lengthens, that alone demonstrates the power of these programs and the need to maintain their funding.

The long term solution for keeping our communities safe is to focus additional energy on providing opportunities to end the cycle that gets people off track in the first place. We must continue to provide the necessary tools and outstretched hands to our fellow neighbors because if we don’t, there is nowhere to turn but the streets.

Article by Jennifer Thompson