THE FOLLOWING IS A PARIS UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT 95 RELEASE
Paris Union School District No. 95 Receives Two Grants from the Department of Justice for School Safety and Violence Prevention Programs – Paris Union School District No. 95 is excited to announce that we have received two new grants from the Department of Justice for our School Violence and Prevent Program and STOP School Violence Program, totaling $587,027.00.
These grants are in addition to the $278,801.15 that we received from the Department of Justice last year for school safety. The funding from these grants will be used to bring additional safety measures and training to our schools. This includes training of staff in mental health, the installation of additional security systems and updates to locks, and the hiring of additional mental health personnel. Our goal is to be proactive in addressing safety concerns, rather than reactive. “Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our top priority,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jeremy Larson. “These grants will allow us to implement important programs and initiatives that will make a tangible difference in the safety of our schools. We are grateful to the Department of Justice for their support and investment in the safety of our school community.”
This past summer, 100% of our staff were trained and certified in Mental Health First Aid, which is a program that teaches individuals how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health challenges. Over the past year, our mental health staff has tripled in size, and we now offer 24/7 counseling services for students through phone services and an online reporting system for safety concerns. In addition, our staff has been trained on how to conduct threat assessments, and we have increased our partnerships with local first responders. We have also conducted safety audits led by certified national school safety experts, and all of our staff have completed ALICE training, which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate.
According to recent statistics, one in five children have a diagnosable mental health disorder, and the winter months are a peak season for dealing with mental health issues. That is why it is so important to report any concerns that you may have and to take a proactive approach to addressing mental health and school safety. “At Paris Union School District No. 95, we believe that safety and mental health go hand in hand,” said Faith Milam, District Prevention Counselor. “By addressing both of these areas, we
can create a more positive and supportive learning environment for our students. We are committed to continuously improving the safety and mental health resources that we offer to our school community.”
