Project Grant 15JCOPS23GG04538SSIX

PERRY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS FUNDING ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE SCHOOL SAFETY, CULTURE AND CLIMATE. OUR NEEDS ARE EXTENSIVE. THE DISTRICT RANKS LOW IN STATE REVENUE FUNDING. THERE ARE NOT MANY BUSINESSES. THERE WAS A MILL, BUT A TORNADO DESTROYED IT IN 2022. THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE COUNTY IS 51,749 WITH PER CAPITA INCOME BEING $27,027. ALL SCHOOL LOCATIONS ARE LOCATED IN HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY AREAS, AND THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS LOCATED IN A PERSISTENT POVERTY MAP ZONE. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS THE MAIN PARTNER FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND SECURITY. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT PROVIDES A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER (SRO) ASSIGNED TO ALL SCHOOLS. THE SRO PROVIDES SCHOOL STAFF TRAINING AND SCHOOL SAFETY DRILL GUIDANCE, REGULAR RISK ASSESSMENTS ENSURING THAT THE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE IS WORKING PROPERLY AND MAINTAINED. THE SRO PROVIDES TRAINING IN ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS, EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND HOW TO PROMOTE SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING FOR ALL. THIS COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSAL MEETS MOST NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT BY THE STATE AND DISTRICT TEAM. AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE SYSTEMS PROPOSED, THERE IS NO ATTEMPT WHATSOEVER TO CRIMINALIZE BEHAVIOR OF STUDENTS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE INSTALLING THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO PREVENT STUDENT BEHAVIOR FROM UNWANTED ACTIVITIES AND TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR THE CAMERAS ON THE SCHOOL BUSES WHICH PROVIDE EVIDENCE IF A REPORT WAS TO EVER OCCUR. IN THESE CASES, WE WILL WORK TO ENSURE THE RIGHTS OF ALL STUDENTS AT ALL TIMES. THE APPLICATION IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING OUR SECURITY SYSTEMS IN AND AROUND SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS. THE GRANT PROJECT IS ABOUT $667,000, WITH A FEDERAL AMOUNT OF $500,000 AND A MATCH OF ABOUT $167,000. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE THE SAFEST SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS AND CLIMATES POSSIBLE WITH EXISTING RESOURCES. THESE SCHOOL SAFETY ENVIRONMENTS ARE MEASURED THROUGH STUDENT BEHAVIOR REPORTS, STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY, STAFF PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY, AND PARENT REPORTS OF SCHOOL SAFETY. THE SCHOOL BOARD IS AN ELECTED BODY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE PERRY COUNTY AREA OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES. OUR STEERING COMMITTEE INCLUDES THE BUSINESS MANAGER, SUPERINTENDENT, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, NETWORK SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR, DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS, NETWORK TECHNICIAN, AND OUR TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR. THIS TEAM WORKS WITH EACH SCHOOL SAFETY COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO WORK GAPS IN OUR CURRENT PLAN. THE PROPOSAL SEEKS COPS SVPP GRANT SUPPORT TO INSTALL THE TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT OUTLINED AS FOLLOWS: AN EXTERIOR DOOR ELECTRONIC ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS, SCHOOL PAGING SYSTEMS, INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BUS CAMERAS, ADDITIONAL FENCING, TWO-WAY RADIOS, AND A VISITOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WILL PROVIDE EFFICIENCIES BEYOND COMPARE TO ALLOW SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF THE ABILITY TO FOCUS ON STUDENTS WHO NEED OUR ASSISTANCE. OUR SCHOOLS WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ANYONE NON-FOR PROFITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, AND OUR PARTNERS, TO PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT ARE READILY AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SCHOOL SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.