Project Grant 15JCOPS23GG04758SSIX

"DETER, DELAY, AND RESPOND: PREVENTING SCHOOL VIOLENCE AT CORINTH SCHOOL DISTRICT THROUGH A LAYERED APPROACH" A SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL MISSION INCLUDES CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS FREE FROM VIOLENCE. ONE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS GREATEST CHALLENGES IS TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME THAT OCCUR ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. IN ORDER TO DETER, DELAY, AND RESPOND TO THREATS, SCHOOLS MUST HAVE A ROBUST PHYSICAL SECURITY SYSTEM IN PLACE. A SCHOOL'S OVERALL PHYSICAL SECURITY CONSISTS OF AN INTEGRATION BETWEEN SECURITY EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, DESIGNS AND FEATURES OF BUILDINGS AND PERIMETER, HUMAN ACTIONS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND RELEVANT TRAINING. A LAYERED APPROACH TO PHYSICAL SECURITY IS NEEDED TO PREVENT ANY SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE WITHIN THE SCHOOLS PHYSICAL SECURITY SYSTEM. THE MISSISSIPPI OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY CONDUCTED A PHYSICAL SCHOOL SECURITY ASSESSMENT ON EACH OF THE THREE SCHOOLS(CORINTH ELEMENTARY, CORINTH MIDDLE, CORINTH HIGH)WITHIN THE CORINTH SCHOOL DISTRICT JURISDICTION ON FEBRUARY 24, 2023 TO HELP K-12 SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO EVALUATE THEIR PHYSICAL SECURITY PRACTICES AND IDENTIFY WAYS TO PREVENT AND PROTECT AGAINST ACTIVE THREATS. AFTER REVIEWING RECOMMENDATIONSFROM THE REPORT AND ANALYZING INTERNAL DATA, THE PROJECT SEEKS TO ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING GOALS: 1) ASSURE A SAFE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BY PROVIDING AN EXTERIOR CAMERA SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 2) REDUCE NOTIFICATION TIMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGH A SAFETY SOLUTION THAT ROUTES REQUESTS FOR HELP TO KEY PERSONNEL INSTANTLY FROM ANY SCHOOL LOCATION, AND 3) IDENTIFY POTENTIAL THREATS THROUGH A DEDICATED TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY ADMINISTRATOR, WHO WILL ALSO SERVE AS THE PROJECT MANGER.THE CORINTH SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL PARTNER WITH THE CORINTH POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALCORN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVESECURITY AT SCHOOLS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN RESPONSE TIME TO SCHOOL-BASED THREATS, IDENTIFICATION AND ACTIVE MONITORING/FOLLOW-UP OFPOTENTIAL THREATS, AND ENHANCEDEDUCTIONAL OUTCOMESTHROUGH REMOVING NEGATIVE EDUCATIONAL CONSEQUENES OF VIOLENCE (ABSENTEEISM, LACK OF CONCENTRATION, DROP-OUT).