School emergency response to violence (project serv)

The Watauga County Board of Education received a $908,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education under the School Safety National Activities program (CFDA 84.184), effective May 5, 2025, with a completion date of June 30, 2026. This award supports the School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) initiative in Boone, North Carolina, and is designed to improve student safety and mental health services within the school district.

Under this grant, the Watauga County BOE will develop and implement comprehensive mental health support and educational initiatives focused on student safety and well-being during and after the school day. The funding enables the district to expand school-based mental health services and enhance its emergency preparedness and violence prevention capabilities. As a local educational agency in a rural region of western North Carolina, the district leverages this federal support to address critical gaps in mental health professional availability and to create innovative approaches to fostering safe educational environments for students and staff.