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M-DCPS LAYS OUT PLAN FOR NEW SPECIALTY SCHOOL MIAMI – The storylines of the popular television show CSI: Miami may soon be the coursework for students in a new school specializing in forensic science, law and homeland security, according to a plan approved by the Miami-Dade County School Board Wednesday. The District will construct the new school in response to the high national demand for homeland security and forensics experts. The U.S. government will give more than $84 million over the next five years in grants nationwide to provide training and specific job preparation in this field. A recent Miami-Dade Police Department Training Bureau report stresses the need for capable candidates in today’s criminal justice industry. As part of an education compact formed last year between the District and the City of Miami, the 500-seat school will operate in conjunction with the City of Miami Police College and may be housed in the new police college training facility, currently in the design phase. The School Board allocated $12 million over the next three years for construction of the school. As part of the Secondary School Reform initiative, the school is a small learning community, which allows students to benefit from a more specialized subject environment. Students will take courses including principles of public service, criminal justice operation, comprehensive law and constitutional law in addition to their graduation requirements. Courses will coincide with the area of specialization chosen by the student. The school has a projected opening date of fall 2008 for freshmen and sophomores. One more grade level will be introduced each subsequent year. # # # 06-LJG/239/DF |
