Tonawanda city school district (tcsd) serves 1,638 students k-12 in the small, close-knit community of tonawanda along the scenic niagara river at the gateway to the erie canal

Poverty is a significant factor, with 54% of students considered economically disadvantaged and a 100% free lunch rate in district. Despite challenges, tonawanda has a long history of community mobilization to meet local needs. In partnership with the city of tonawanda police department, tcsd is able to maintain two full-time school resource officers that build positive relationships with students and deliver evidence-based drug and violence prevention programming during the school day. The main entrances at each school are staffed by security teams that include numerous retired police officers. While most school-based incidents are able to be handled at school, tcsd reported three fights, three possession of a knife, five thefts, one vandalism, and 20 possession, distribution, use of illegal drugs incidents to law enforcement this year. Safety is the top priority. In 2022-2023, tcsd experienced five threat incidents that were reported, investigated in coordination with the city of tonawanda police department, and addressed, requiring district-wide parent notification through the mass communication text and email system. In coordination with local police, tcsd also investigated 13 tips that were largely unfounded, necessitating only prevention services and family wraparound support programs. Tonawanda students, teachers, parents, and community members are partners in safety, and thus far, this partnership has kept tonawanda safe. But while the human side of tcsds safety plan is robust, the equipment and technology side has significant gaps which have been spotlighted in the aftermath of recent school tragedies across the nation. The overall goal of the tonawanda svpp initiative is to address those gaps, enhancing the safety of tcsd students and staff. Necessary upgrades identified in coordination with erie 1 boces and the city of tonawanda police department include: securing the exterior to prevent forced entry to tonawanda school buildings: installing shatter-resistant security window film on ground floor glass. Installing exterior doors with magnetic access control to limit unauthorized access. Installing upgraded gates to secure the playground and practice field. Securing the interior to streamline response capabilities: upgraded technology for staffed security room (monitors and towers) to enhance video feed monitoring and access control system operations. Upgraded portable radios to ensure real-time communication between and within tcsd campuses and law enforcement. Security camera upgrades to address blind spots. Replacing existing unsafe interior doors with large windows. Tonawanda city school district coordinated closely with the city of tonawanda police department and erie 1 boces to design a safety upgrade plan that will best protect students and staff, preventing unauthorized access to the school buildings and grounds, enhancing the security of classroom doors and upgrading video surveillance, monitoring, and communication technologies to inform appropriate responses in the event of an emergency. Tonawandas request will be matched with cash and in-kind services, as nothing is more important than safety.