By Ed Somers

"Our hearts go out to the children and parents impacted by this tragic event," Salt Lake City Mayor and Conference President Deedee Corradini said following the worst incident of school violence in the nation's history at Columbine High School on April 20.

"As the nation's mayors, we have long been concerned with violence in America's schools and how to make them safer. Parents should never have to worry when they send their children to school," Corradini added.

To work toward the nation's goal of violence-free schools, The U.S. Conference of Mayors sponsored the first-ever National Summit on School Violence and Kids from 2:00 to 8:00pm in Salt Lake City on September 24, 1998.

"At our National Summit, mayors joined with Attorney General Janet Reno, police chiefs, educators, students, arts, parks and recreation officials, health experts, and representatives from the news media and entertainment industries in developing a National Action Plan to address the growing concern over school violence," Corradini said.

The National Action Plan was then presented to President Clinton and the Congress, and sent to mayors and educators across the nation.

Many of the action items can and are being implemented by mayors working within their own cities with parents, police officials, educators, health experts, the private sector and non-profit entities. However, other recommendations require a strong partnership with the federal government.

"Our National Action Plan calls for important steps such as 100,000 new school counselors for intervention with at-risk and troubled youth, metal detectors for schools that want and need them, school uniforms for all children, comprehensive gun safety legislation, and greater before- and after-school opportunities for children," Corradini said. A second copy of the plan has been sent to Congress by the officers of the Conference urging immediate action.

A major package of gun safety measures was unveiled by President Clinton on April 27, measures strongly supported by the Conference and the National Action Plan.

The National Action Plan also contains strong recommendations regarding violence in the media and entertainment industries, including the formation of a joint task force of mayors and top industry executives to reduce youth exposure to violence.

Attorney General Reno Supports School Counselors

Several hours prior to the Columbine shootings, Mayor Corradini and New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial met with Attorney General Janet Reno in Washington, DC on key issues including school violence.

General Reno actively participated in the National Summit in Salt Lake City, and many of the recommendations contained in the National Action Plan reflect her suggestions.

Of particular interest to General Reno back in September of 1998 was the recommendation for 100,000 new school counselors. General Reno supported this action item then, and continues to voice support for school counselors.

General Reno called Mayor Corradini following the Columbine shootings to further discuss implementation of the National Action Plan, specifically the need for school counselors in elementary and middle schools.

In an April 26 interview on CNN's Larry King Live, General Reno presented Mr. King with a copy of the National Action Plan and commented, "The National Action Plan by the Conference of Mayors calls for 100,000 youth counselors in the schools of America. We need people with skills to identify these children early on, but not just identify and label them, identify them and help them. Help them solve the problems that young people face in this country."

New Jersey Conference of Mayors Endorses Action Plan

Meeting in Atlantic City on April 21-23, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors (NJCM) unanimously endorsed The U.S. Conference of Mayors National Action Plan.

Following a presentation during their board meeting by Conference Executive Director J. Thomas Cochran, the National Action Plan was adopted as official policy of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, which will now work within the state for its implementation. Incoming NJCM President John DiMaio of Hackettstown has appointed Hope Mayor Timothy McDonough to lead a special committee working on implementation of the plan.

National Conference of Black Mayors

During the National Conference of Black Mayors meeting in Denver on April 20-25, Host Mayor Wellington E. Webb distributed the National Action Plan to conference participants.

Mayor Webb is Vice President of The U.S. Conference of Mayors and participated in the drafting of the National Action Plan. Plan Presented During Chicago Schools Meeting

A special session to discuss school violence took place as a part of Chicago's "Getting it Done: Meeting the Challenges of Education in America" conference, April 28-30. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino presented the National Action Plan following a special roundtable discussion on school violence with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley on Thursday, April 29.

Best Practices on School Violence Available

In addition to the National Action Plan, The U.S. Conference of Mayors has released a major compendium of over 260 Best Practices on School Violence Prevention from mayors in cities across the nation. These best practices can be accessed on the Conference's web site, along with the National Action Plan, at www.usmayors.org/uscm .