Todd Novak: Keeping kids safe at school: Funding the Office of School Safety – WisPolitics

Report on the Funding and Impact of Wisconsin’s Office of School Safety (OSS) in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Fostering Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments

This report details the legislative and funding history of the Wisconsin Office of School Safety (OSS), analyzing its operations and achievements through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The establishment and continued funding of the OSS represent a significant state-level commitment to ensuring safety, well-being, and institutional strength, directly contributing to several key SDGs.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The creation and reinforcement of the OSS is a primary example of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at the state level (Target 16.6) to significantly reduce violence (Target 16.1).

• Institutional Establishment: The OSS was created by legislation in 2018 as a direct institutional response to the threat of school violence.
• Core Functions for Violence Prevention:
  1. Allocation of $100 million in grants for upgrading school security infrastructure.
  2. Development of critical incident mapping plans for emergency preparedness.
  3. Establishment of the “Speak Up Speak Out” (SUSO) 24/7 anonymous tip line to proactively report threats of violence and other safety concerns.
• Ensuring Institutional Longevity: A key legislative priority was to secure permanent state funding for 13 staff positions, transitioning from temporary federal grants to a sustainable, state-supported model. This was successfully achieved in the 2025-27 state budget, ensuring the long-term operational capacity of the OSS.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 4: Quality Education

The OSS initiative directly supports the creation of safe learning environments (Target 4.a), which is a prerequisite for quality education, and promotes mental health and well-being (Target 3.4) among students.

• Promoting Well-being through Proactive Reporting: The SUSO tip line has become a critical tool for addressing health and safety issues. Since its expansion, it has processed over 17,000 tips concerning:
  • Mental health concerns
  • Self-harm
  • Bullying
  • Threats of violence
  • Domestic abuse
  • Sexual misconduct
• Creating Safe Learning Environments: By providing schools with resources for prevention, response, and recovery from violent incidents, the OSS directly contributes to building and maintaining safe, non-violent, and inclusive learning environments essential for achieving quality education for all students.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The success of the OSS funding initiative demonstrates a multi-stakeholder partnership (Target 17.17) that transcended political and administrative divisions to achieve a common goal.

• Bipartisan Legislative Collaboration: The effort to secure funding involved collaboration between Republican and Democratic members of the Wisconsin Legislature.
• Cross-Branch Cooperation: The initiative was advanced through conversations and joint efforts between legislators (Rep. Novak, Sen. Quinn), the Attorney General (AG Josh Kaul), and the Governor’s office (Gov. Evers).
• Multi-Level Funding Strategy: The OSS has been sustained through a strategic combination of funding sources, showcasing a partnership between federal and state governments.
  1. Initial federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
  2. Temporary state funding sourced from concealed carry permit fees.
  3. Permanent, long-term funding secured through the state’s biennial budget.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article focuses on establishing and funding a state institution, the Office of School Safety (OSS), to prevent violence and ensure justice and safety within the school environment.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The core theme is creating a safe learning environment, which is a fundamental prerequisite for quality education. The initiatives described aim to ensure students and teachers can be in schools without fear of violence.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article mentions that the “Speak Up Speak Out” tip line addresses issues of “bullying, domestic abuse, self-harm… and mental health concerns,” directly contributing to the mental health and well-being of students.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The success of securing long-term funding for the OSS is explicitly attributed to bipartisan collaboration between a Republican representative, a Democratic Attorney General, and the Governor.

Identified SDG Targets

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
     
     Explanation: The primary purpose of creating the Office of School Safety (OSS) is to “prevent these tragedies” and respond to threats of violence in schools, directly aligning with the goal of reducing violence. The “Speak Up Speak Out” tip line is a specific tool created to report and prevent “threats of violence.”
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
     
     Explanation: The article details the creation, staffing, and long-term funding of the OSS. This represents the development of an effective state-level institution designed to be a “critical resource for students, teachers, and parents” and to ensure school safety.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
     
     Explanation: The article states that the original legislation included “$100 million in state grants to upgrade school security infrastructure” and to “create critical incident mapping plans for emergencies.” These actions are direct efforts to provide a safe and effective learning environment.

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
     
     Explanation: The article highlights that the SUSO tip line has received tips on issues including “bullying, domestic abuse, self-harm… and mental health concerns.” This service acts as a tool to promote mental health and well-being by providing an outlet for reporting and addressing these critical issues among students.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
     
     Explanation: The author emphasizes the successful bipartisan effort, stating, “I worked with AG Kaul and Senator Romaine Quinn” and that “thanks to our bipartisan collaboration, Wisconsin is taking real action to keep our kids safe at school.” This cross-party cooperation to achieve a common goal is a clear example of an effective public partnership.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Indicators for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) & SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • Number of tips received by the “Speak Up Speak Out” (SUSO) tip line: The article provides a direct metric, stating that “SUSO has received more than 17,000 tips” on issues ranging from threats of violence to mental health concerns. This indicates the usage and reach of the safety program.
   • Permanent increase in staffing for the OSS: A concrete indicator of institutional strength is the securing of “state funding for 13 positions at OSS,” ensuring the office can operate at full capacity.

2. Indicators for SDG 4 (Quality Education)

   • Financial investment in school security: The article specifies that “$100 million in state grants” were allocated “to upgrade school security infrastructure,” serving as a clear financial indicator of progress towards safer facilities.
   • Implementation of safety plans: The creation of “critical incident mapping plans for emergencies” is a tangible, non-financial indicator of schools being better equipped for safety.

3. Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Passage of bipartisan legislation: The article notes that the author worked with members of the opposing party to “draft legislation” and that “Governor Evers signed our bill into law,” which serves as a direct indicator of a successful public partnership.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wispolitics.com