September 11, 2020 — U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill) today announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office has awarded a $461,775 School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) grant to Collinsville Community Unit School District (CUSD) #10 to improve school safety.
The funding will be used to install new video surveillance equipment, intercom systems, and phone systems. The funding authority comes from the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018 which Davis co-sponsored.
“This school safety grant award will make Collinsville schools safer,” said Davis. “I was proud to co-sponsor the STOP School Violence Act which we now see in action giving our school districts the tools they need to keep students safe.”
“On behalf of the Collinsville CUSD #10, we are excited to be the recipients of the DOJ School Violence Prevention Program Grant, ” said Collinsville CUSD #10 Superintendent Brad Skertich. “The district will be utilizing grant funds to upgrade video surveillance equipment, intercom systems and improve communication by adding telephones to classrooms. We commend the efforts of Derek Turner, Director of Technology and Dan Porter, District Security, for their efforts on this endeavor and their commitment to improving safety and communication within our district!”
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith.
Program Background
The STOP School Violence Act of 2018 gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The awards can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security.
Related: House Republicans and Democrats Come Together to Pass the STOP School Violence Act