Project Grant 15JCOPS23GG04619SSIX

PROJECT TITLE: SECURING BRISTOLS FUTURE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTION OF VIRGINIA ON THE BORDER WITH BRISTOL, TENNESSEE. THIS IS A RURAL AREA ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS. THERE ARE THREE PERSISTENT POVERTY TRACTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT INCLUDE 201, 202, AND 203. WE HAVE 6 SCHOOL BUILDINGS AVERAGING 74 YEARS OLD, TOTAL ENROLLMENT FOR OUR SCHOOLS IS 2,200. TWO OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE IN OPPORTUNITY ZONES. MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS $43,879 AND PER CAPITA INCOME IS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AT $27,869. OUR POVERTY FOR CHILDREN IS EVEN HIGHER AT 17.10%, AND OUR FAMILIES WITH FOOD STAMPS IS 28%. ANNUALLY, PRINCIPALS COLLABORATE WITH TEACHERS AND SAFETY PERSONNEL FROM THE COMMUNITY TO REVIEW AND REVISE THEIR CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN. A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PLACES A STRONG EMPHASIS ON PREVENTION STRATEGIES. PREVENTION STRATEGIES RANGE FROM BUILDING DESIGN TO DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, WHICH IMPROVE SCHOOL CLIMATE. EVERY THREE YEARS, PRINCIPALS BRING TOGETHER A COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES A MEMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A MEMBER FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES TO ASSIST IN CONDUCTING A SCHOOL SAFETY AUDIT. THREE OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM, AN APPROACH TO DEALING WITH STUDENTS WITH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES. ALL OUR STAFF HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE. MANY HAVE COMPLETED VARIOUS BOOK STUDIES AND MANY ACTIVITIES, DURING PRE-SERVICE WEEK, HAVE BEEN DEVOTED TO SOCIAL- EMOTIONAL HEALTH. CURRENTLY, FOUR OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE TREATMENT TEAMS THAT FOLLOW AND EVALUATE THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF SELECT STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INTERVENTIONS. SEVERAL OF OUR STAFF ARE MANDT TRAINED, A MEASURE TO HELP IN DE-ESCALATING SITUATIONS AND PROVIDE SAFE HOLDS WHEN NECESSARY FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ESCALATED. BRISTOL POLICE PROVIDE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS TO ALL SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, BVPD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, PARTNERED WITH THE DIVISION TO BE TRAINED IN HANDLE WITH CARE. THE PROJECTS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN THIS PROPOSAL INCLUDE THE EVOLV EXPRESS SYSTEM TO DETECT WEAPONS ON PEOPLE ENTERING THE BUILDING. THE SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR MANY STUDENTS TO PASS THROUGH WHILE STILL DETECTING POTENTIAL WEAPONS IN THEIR POSSESSION. THE SECOND TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION IS THE MASS COMMUNICATION AND EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT, ONCE ACTIVATED, IMMEDIATELY PROVIDES AUDIO AND VISUAL COMMUNICATION AT THE SCHOOL SITE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY NOTIFYING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO RESPOND. OUR SCHOOLS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY, PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE THROUGH RIGOROUS PROGRAMS TO INSPIRE THOUGHTFUL, PRODUCTIVE, AND CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. TWO OF OUR GOALS ARE TO PROVIDE ACTIVITIES THAT IMPROVE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL HEALTH FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF WHILE CONSIDERING THE SECONDARY EFFECTS FOR TRAUMA, AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO DIVISION-WIDE EFFORTS TO DECREASE BULLYING AND IMPROVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES. THESE ARE MEASURABLE GOALS THAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE IMPACTED, POSITIVELY, THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROJECT. THIS GRANT IS A SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION IN ESTABLISHING A FOOTHOLD IN SCHOOL SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT WILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN OUR SAFE SCHOOL CLIMATE AND CULTURE.