Project Grant 15JCOPS23GG04593SSIX

SAFER ARMOREL SCHOOLS THE ARMOREL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LOCATED WITHIN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, ARKANSAS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, NORTH OF MEMPHIS. THIS IS A PERSISTENT POVERTY COUNTY AND A FEDERAL OPPORTUNITY ZONE. FINANCIALLY, WE ARE HOLDING ON WITH DAILY OPERATIONS, BUT DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO SPEND ON PAST INSTRUCTIONAL ITEMS AND SALARIES. ALL OUR FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED TO THE DAILY OPERATIONS AND LIFE SAFETY EXPENSES. IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF CRITICAL INCIDENT AT ONE OF THE SCHOOLS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR NEARBY POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES AWAY. THIS IS ONE OF THE CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF THIS PROJECT. BASED ON OUR VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS, WE MUST DETERMINE THAT THESE ARE OUR HIGHEST NEED PRIORITY PROJECTS. THIS PROPOSAL WAS DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THE GAPS AND NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE SUSTAINED EFFORTS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMITTEE. EXTERIOR AND CLASSROOM DOORS WILL HAVE ELECTRONIC ACCESS CONTROL. STUDENTS USE CARD READERS TO MOVE ABOUT. IF AN ACTIVE THREAT OCCURRED, THE PUSH OF A BUTTON WOULD CAUSE ALL DOORS TO CLOSE AND LOCK. UPON NOTIFICATION OF AN ARMED ASSAILANT, THE SYSTEM WOULD BE ACTIVATED AND CAUSE ALL INTERIOR DOORS TO BE LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY, WITHOUT THE NEED FOR HUMAN INTERVENTION OR STAFF STEPPING INTO THE HALLWAYS. THE STAFF AND STUDENTS WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL SECONDS TO SECURE AND BLOCK THE LOCKED DOOR AND PREPARE TO FIGHT, IF NECESSARY. OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER (SRO) IS A MEMBER OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THE SRO WORKS AT THE SCHOOL FULL TIME. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THE SRO WORKS WITH THE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT A SCHOOL SAFETY AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT. OUR DISTRICT HAS AN EMERGENCY OPERATION PLAN, IN WHICH OUR LOCAL SHERIFF HAS THE SRO REVIEW THE SCHOOL PLAN. LAST YEAR OUR DRILLS WERE REVISED AND UPDATED, INCLUDING OUR FIRE DRILLS. WE USE THE LOOK, LISTEN, AND DECIDE FOR ALL SCHOOL STAFF SIMILAR TO AVOID, DENY, AND DEFEND. THE SRO PROVIDES ANNUAL ALL-STAFF TRAINING FOR ALL-SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS. THE SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS INCLUDE A FIRE DRILL ONCE A MONTH, A LAW ENFORCEMENT DRILL ONCE PER SEMESTER, TORNADO DRILLS TWICE PER YEAR, AS WELL AS EARTHQUAKE DRILLS. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES ACTIVE STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN A RIGOROUS, BALANCED EDUCATION THAT FOCUSES ON CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY AND COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS. THE TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT REQUESTED WILL PROVIDE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT THAN CURRENTLY EXISTS, PROVIDING A FASTER AND AUTOMATIC METHOD FOR SECURING THE INTERIOR DOORS, IN CASE OF AN ACTIVE THREAT SITUATION. AS WE HAVE LITTLE CAPITAL FUNDS TO COMPLETE PROJECTS LIKE THIS, THE VALUE THAT WE WILL HAVE IN THE INSTALLATION OF THIS EQUIPMENT WOULD BE ENORMOUS. SUSTAINING THIS EQUIPMENT WILL BE PART OF OUR REGULAR DAILY ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.