November 8, 2002

€

Mr. John W. Turcotte

€

Director, Office of Program Policy Analysis

€

and Government Accountability (OPPAGA)

Claude Pepper Building, Room 312

111 West Madison Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

Ms. E. Jane Gallucci

Chair, Partnership for School Safety and Security

3144 Masters Drive

Clearwater, Florida 33761

Dear John and Jane:

This is to advise that we have reviewed and approved the attached Safety and

Security Best Practices as required by Section 229.8348, Florida Statutes. We

would like to thank the Partnership members and OPPAGA staff for the time and

effort they have spent on this endeavor. Under your direction, many individuals,

from school superintendents to district contacts, were involved in making

recommendations on the revised best practices.

As stated in statute, these best practices will be reviewed annually by OPPAGA

and recommendations made for approval to the Commissioner of Education.

Because the best practices will be reviewed annually, district personnel will be

given an opportunity to comment on these practices and, again, make

recommendations for revisions to enhance the best practices for Fiscal Year

2003-2004.

We believe the revised best practices will continue to help school districts

improve the safety of their schools.

Sincerely,

Charlie Crist, Commissioner

Jim Horne, Secretary

Department of Education

Florida Board of Education

CC:JH:lha:tc

Attachments

cc:

Partnership for School Safety and Security