#15 - Building Budget

            After reviewing our school budget, there is one major issue that I would make room for.  One of the most important issues that were mentioned on the staff needs assessment was about safety at our school.  I would use more funds from our budget to ensure that our staff and students felt safer.  This would include hiring a real security guard that worked all day instead of a half day.  Currently, the man hired to watch the parking lot only works till around 1:00 pm.  This would cost our school a bit more money to hire a qualified security guard, but the staff would be happier knowing that their cars and other personal belongings would be secure and that the staff would be safe walking to their cars in the afternoon.  The school has been on lockdown a few times because of gang related activity and bomb threats which could not be prevented with hiring a qualified security guard, but it would make the staff feel more at ease.