The utica shale academy (USA) is a dropout recovery and prevention school located in salineville, ohio

The school services 23 school districts in a four county area. The school's population has increased from 30 students in 2019 to 150 students in 2023. The campus will have grown from one building to four buildings by the end of this year. This growth trend is expected to continue and accelerate. As the school grows, so do safety concerns. Utica shale academy has endured unique safety challenges. Students come from diverse backgrounds, have a pattern of chronic absenteeism and exclusionary discipline as well as a history of experiencing trauma. A threat assessment team will provide interventions to reduce negative behaviors and provide students access to caring adults and professional counseling if needed. Since the school encompasses a large geographical area there are transportation safety and social media threat concerns. A school safety coordinator is imperative to coordinate and communicate with multiple law enforcement jurisdictions and school districts as well as lead the threat assessment team. Svpp FY2023 cops office grant funding would be of immeasurable help as we seek to keep our students and staff safe. The utica shale academy is pursuing the opportunity to initiate our averting school violence in appalachia project. With svpp funding, we will be able to incorporate community policing concepts by coordinating and collaborating with school stakeholders and key community members. Coordinating better with law enforcement professionals and community members throughout the districts from which our students come, will not be easy, but we have identified methods and equipment to help US do just that. The utica shale academy application includes requests for funding to cover three distinct areas. First, seeking to fund the hire of a school safety coordinator. Secondly, seeking to purchase, install, and implement safety and security equipment. Lastly to enhance coordination, collaboration, and collective training exercises with school stakeholders. Statistics support these measures, showing not only a significant decrease in death and injury during violent school events, but also a dramatic decrease in such events altogether (please see the uploaded averting school violence information document showing supporting details). The implementation of a school safety coordinator and use of specific safety and security equipment, not only acts as an overt deterrent, but prepares personnel and facilities to respond quickly while effectively coordinating with external agencies and responders.