Project Grant 15JCOPS23GG04597SSIX

PROJECT ABSTRACT APPLICANT: MAINE ARTS ACADEMY PROJECT TITLE: MEAA SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY PROJECT PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT: MAINE ARTS ACADEMY IS A FREE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, LOCATED IN AUGUSTA, MAINE. ANY STUDENT WHO IS A RESIDENT OF THE STATE IS ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND. THE SCHOOL IS THE ONLY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THE STATE OFFERING AN IN-DEPTH EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MUSIC AND THE ARTS. BECAUSE OF THIS UNIQUE FOCUS, STUDENTS TRAVEL FROM GREAT DISTANCES TO ATTEND (13 OF MAINES 16 COUNTIES REPRESENTING MORE THAN 85 TOWNS). THE PROJECT BENEFITS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE. THE SCHOOL IS MOVING TO A NEW PROPERTY THAT HAS OTHER CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUILDING STRUCTURE AND LOCATION THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED TO INCREASE SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR STUDENTS, STAFF AND VISITORS. THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO PROMOTE A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS TO MAXIMIZE LEARNING AND INCREASE POSITIVE EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL OUTCOMES. THE IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION OF EACH PROJECT OBJECTIVE AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES WAS DESIGNED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH ABOUT THE MANY RISKS AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENT LEARNING. THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS BY DEFINITION TIME AND ACTIVITY LIMITED. AS SUCH, IT REPRESENTS ONLY A PORTION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE AND DYNAMIC NATURE OF THE PLANNING, PREPARATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORK PERFORMED EVERY DAY TO SUPPORT EACH STUDENT. PROJECT GOAL AND OUTCOME: THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND INCREASE THE SKILLS WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY (STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES) TO RESPOND TO CHALLENGES WITH THE PRIMARY OUTCOMES OF PROMOTING A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. BY ADDRESSING SPECIFIC GAPS IN SCHOOL SAFETY AND CLIMATE PLANNING EFFORTS, THE GOAL IS TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO POTENTIAL THREATS AND PROMOTE POSITIVE STUDENT BEHAVIORS. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES: OBJECTIVE 1 - IMPLEMENT INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PHYSICAL SECURITY MEASURES TO BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE SCHOOLS NEW PROPERTY, INCLUDING: ACTIVITIES - TO INSTALL THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS. EXTERNAL PERIMETER CONTROLS - SIGNAGE AND GATES EXTERNAL BUILDING CONTROLS - KEY CARD ACCESS, CAMERAS, AND MOTION SENSORS INTERNAL ROOM CONTROLS - LOCKING DOOR HARDWARE ON CLASSROOM AND OFFICE DOORS, AND OPTIONAL WINDOW COVERINGS METHODS OF THREAT DETECTION AND COMMUNICATION - IP BASED CAMERA SYSTEM WITH REMOTE ACCESS, EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CAMERAS, AND MOTION ALERT SYSTEM OBJECTIVE 2 - INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF STUDENTS AND STAFF TO NOTICE UNUSUAL BEHAVIORS AND RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO EMERGENCY SITUATIONS ACTIVITIES - TO TRAIN STUDENTS IN STAFF IN CRITICAL SAFETY MEASURES. TRAINING IN ACTIVE SHOOTER THREATS (TRAINING FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS) TRAINING IN PROVIDING EMERGENCY RESPONSE CARE TO VICTIMS (TRAINING FOR STAFF) SHOULD AN ADVERSE EVENT OCCUR. KEY PARTNERS: PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS IN SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY POPULATION BENEFITING FROM THE PROJECT: THE SCHOOL SERVES ANY RESIDENT STUDENT OF THE STATE. STUDENTS TRAVEL FROM GREAT DISTANCES TO ATTEND (13 OF MAINES 16 COUNTIES REPRESENTING MORE THAN 85 TOWNS). THE PROJECT BENEFITS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE.