The
Department of Justice this week announced more than $70 million in grants to
support school safety nationwide. The Savannah-Chatham County Public
School System is pleased to have been the recipient of two of those grants
totaling nearly half a million dollars.
- SCCPSS Campus Police were
awarded $187,500 through the STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental
Health Training Program, also managed by BJA. The grant monies will
provide training and education on preventing violence and effectively
responding to related mental health crises.
- SCCPSS Campus Police in
collaboration with Chatham County Government were also awarded $306,912
through the COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP).
This grant will provide for school safety measures including coordination
with law enforcement, training for law enforcement to prevent student
violence against others and self, target hardening measures, and technology
for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency.
The federal
grants are authorized by the STOP School Violence Act, which are intended to
improve school security by helping students and teachers reduce exposure to
risks, prevent acts of violence, and quickly recognize and respond to violent
attacks.
SCCPSS
Campus Police Chief Terry Enoch says, “The grants will help Savannah-Chatham
County Public Schools enhance security at each of our facilities and continue
our efforts in training our staff, students and law enforcement officers in the
best ways to prepare for the possibility of violence and mitigate the effects.”
Savannah-Chatham
County Public Schools make ensuring the safety of students, staff and our
facilities a top priority and assessments are regularly conducted to determine
what improvements can be made to enhance those efforts.
