Safe Passage partners say program cut school discipline incidents and expanded to eight schools

PITTSBURGH — City and nonprofit officials and students on May 14 told a Pittsburgh City Council post‑agenda hearing that the Safe Passage program, developed after a 2019 incident at Perry High School, now operates in seven high schools and one middle school and has coincided with reductions in disciplinary incidents and other measures of student harm.

"As a result of the Safe Passage program, there's been a 27% decrease in total discipline events, a 25% decrease in major discipline events, 14% decrease in student involvement, [and] 7% decrease in violent offense," David A. Jones, assistant director of public safety for the city of Pittsburgh, told council members. He said the city and partners secured a PCCD grant to scale the model.

City and school leaders said the program rests on a memorandum of understanding among Pittsburgh Public Schools, the city and community partners; on weekly coordination calls; and on in‑school staff known as safety ambassadors who are trained to identify high‑risk situations, mediate conflicts and connect students to services.

Talley Thompson, who the presenters described as the projectleader, said the work grew out of a grassroots start at Perry High School and "is one of the most comprehensive collaborations that I've ever been a part of in my life." Jason Rivers, project manager for Pittsburgh Public Schools' violence prevention work, emphasized the program's relational capital: "The greatest capital that this collaboration has is relationships."

Students and coordinators described how the program operates on four taught "pillars" — including providing identity and changing community norms — and said ambassadors intervene in hallways and social media conflicts to prevent escalation. "The Safe Passage ambassadors are the ones that try to kill the disease of violence," Kimmy McKendy, a senior and safety ambassador at University Preparatory, said.

Program coordinators and school principals credited a combination of services and tools for improving early warning and response. Presenters said the New Era 412 data/notification system now sends automatic alerts when a submitted risk assessment reaches a level 3 or 4, prompting outreach from Safe Passage coordinators, school social workers, city social workers and, if needed, school police. The presenters also described partnerships with REACH, the Centers for Victims and national network Cities United; Duquesne University said its students are assisting with program evaluation and arts‑based identity work.

Organizers said the program includes 94 paid safety ambassadors placed on Operation Better Block payroll and receiving $200 per month; they said the program had used grant funds and partner support to avoid simply duplicating existing school services. Presenters also said that in 2024 there were no homicides among residents ages 13 to 17 in the cited cohort, and that there had been two teenage homicides in 2025 "so far," which presenters said were related to young people "playing with guns." They emphasized the work is intended to interrupt the pathways that can lead to larger violence.

Assistant Superintendent Nina Sacco and Principal O'Malley of Perry High School described the MOU and weekly meetings as a way to shift school culture and operationalize trauma‑informed supports. Duquesne faculty and Safe Passage director Danielle King said the university is supporting data analysis and that outside trauma specialists are regularly brought into ambassador meetings when needed.

Council members thanked presenters and asked about coordination with other school and community programs. Presenters said Safe Passage was intentionally designed to collaborate with existing efforts (A+ Schools, mentoring groups, local nonprofits) and to add capacity rather than replace existing programs.

The hearing closed with promises to share the programdata packet with council members and continued emphasis from presenters that the initiative relies on interagency coordination, a formal MOU, and community partners. Council members praised the student speakers and said the program offers a model for rethinking public safety in schools.