Project Grant 15JCOPS23GG04905SSIX

THE VAN BUREN R-1 SCHOOLS HAVE PUT TOGETHER A PROJECT (CREATING A SAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT: IMPLEMENTING SAFETY MEASURES TO PREVENT SCHOOL VIOLENCE --- CSSE) TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PRESSING PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL SAFETY CONCERNS. DURING THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR VAN BUREN HAD AN ACTIVE SHOOTER, STOPPED IN THE PLANNING STAGE. THIS CLOSE CALL CAUSED A GROUP OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT (CITY OF POLICE, CARTER COUNTY SHERIFF, AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE), EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (FIRE DEPARTMENT, EMA, AND AMBULANCE), AND THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION TO MEET. DURING THIS TIME WE TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT THE WAYS WE CAN MAKE OUR SCHOOL A SAFER AND MORE PROTECTED PLACE FOR OUR YOUTH TO LEARN, GROW, AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY. IN THE CSSE PROJECT WE ADDRESS ADDING PHYSICAL SAFETY DETERRENTS.(OBJECTIVE 1 & 2) WE WOULD INCREASE CAMERAS AND DOOR ACCESS CONTROLS. THIS WILL INCREASE THE OVERALL SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, CAUSING DOORS TO BE INNATELY LOCKED AND ACCESS TO VIDEO FOOTAGE TO ADDRESS ISSUES AS THEY HAPPEN. NEW DOORS WILL REPLACE THOSE THAT ARE NOT SECURE, AND SAFETY FILM WILL BE PLACED ON ALL WINDOWS WITH GROUND LEVEL ACCESS. WE ALSO ADDRESS WORST CASE SCENARIOS AND HOW TO BEST SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS. (OBJECTIVE 3) IN THIS PROJECT WE ARE ADDING AN ACTIVE SHOOTER DETECTION SYSTEM THAT WILL ALERT LAW ENFORCEMENT IMMEDIATELY TO A SHOT FIRED IN ANY BUILDING. THIS SYSTEM INTEGRATES WITH THE CAMERAS MENTIONED ABOVE TO ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT EYES ON THE SITUATION BEFORE GETTING TO THE CAMPUS. THIS WILL ALLOW A QUICKER RESPONSE TIME. TO HELP SUPPORT THE STAFF WE ARE REPLACING OUR BROKEN INTERCOM SYSTEM TO ALLOW FOR MORE QUICKLY DISTRIBUTED INFORMATION IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. A HANDHELD RADIO WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL STAFF TO ALLOW COMMUNICATION DURING AN EVACUATION SITUATION. TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCE OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION, AND HELP OUR STUDENTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES, WITH THEIR OVERALL MENTAL HEALTH. WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING THE KNOW THE SIGNS - A SANDY HOOK PROJECT. THIS PROGRAM WILL EDUCATE OUR STUDENT BODY AND THE COMMUNITY ON HOW TO IDENTIFY AT-RISK BEHAVIORS AND INTERVENE TO GET HELP. WE WILL ALSO BE IMPLEMENTING A ANONYMOUS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM. THIS WILL ALLOW ANYONE TO ALERT THE AUTHORITIES IF A THREAT IS MADE OR CONCERNING REMARKS OR BEHAVIORS ARE VISIBLE. (OBJECTIVE 4) THROUGH THE CSSE PROJECT WE WILL BE USING THE FUNDS TO PROVIDE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY SUPPORT FOR THE STAFF AND STUDENTS AT THE VAN BUREN R-1 SCHOOL. IN THE PROJECT WE ADDRESS PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL SAFETY CONCERNS AS WELL AS EDUCATION FOR THE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY TO HELP ELIMINATE POSSIBLE THREATS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR PARTNERS (LISTED ABOVE) WE FEEL THE PLAN LAID OUT WILL DRAMATICALLY INCREASE SAFETY AT THIS SCHOOL.