On October 2, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice announced more than $70 million dollars in grant awards to bolster school security, educate and train students and faculty, and support law enforcement officers and first responders who arrive on the scene of a school violence incident.
Of the $70 million, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), an agency within the Department of Justice, provided approximately $25 million of funding through its School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) grant awards.
Underscoring a commitment to student safety, the Clay County Commission, in partnership with Clay County Schools, received an SVPP award of $207,933. Clay County was one of only two counties in the State to receive these grant monies. Upshur County also received a grant award.
County Commissioner Jerry Linkinoggor identified the grant opportunity, sharing the information with Clay County Schools Superintendent Joe Paxton. Dr. Michelle Samples, Grant Director/Writer for Clay County Schools, developed the Partner-Prevent-Protect proposal with Commissioner Linkinoggor providing information necessary for the proposal’s submission.
The Partner-Prevent-Protect project in Clay County makes possible numerous security measures. Along with securing funds for training for local law enforcement officers in the prevention of and response to school violence, the grant provides for increased security measures throughout the county’s six schools. Items such as handheld metal detectors, new surveillance cameras, updated keyless entry systems, and classroom call systems, which will allow for communication between the classroom and the main office, will all be funded. Additionally, once law enforcement officers receive training, they will be able to return to the schools and provide training for teachers and students in the prevention of school violence.
Given only to state, local, and tribal governments, the School Violence Prevention Program grants were awarded to just 91 jurisdictions across the country.