Twiggs Co. Board of Education secures $375,000 violence prevention grant

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) chose the Twiggs County school district and over 1,000 other schools across the country to receive thousands of dollars for school safety. The Twiggs Board of Education (BOE) announced the grant at their last meeting Oct. 22. 

The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office School Violence Prevention Program is designed to provide funding to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the grantee’s jurisdiction, a fact sheet from the DOJ read.

Applications were evaluated on factors such as the impact the proposed program could have on local schools, financial need, need for improved security, current school safety and the implementation plan, according to the DOJ.

There were 1,008 total applications from 49 states and one territory. The total 203 grants awarded across 40 states total over $73,000,000 — the awardees include both school districts and individual schools, totaling nearly 1,300 schools and more than 675,000 students.

Of the awardees, 74% are in rural areas.

Two other Georgia school districts received grants: the Montgomery County Board of Education and the Paulding County Board of Education. 

Twiggs BOE began receiving help from the Greenlights Grant Initiative in April, which provides grant-writing assistance to schools for safety projects. For “high-need, low-capacity school districts,” the initiative helps free of charge.

The school district did not disclose the details of their plans “due to the nature of security and safety,” said Miriam Rearden, executive director of federal programs and accountability during her presentation to the board, but she said it will support “ongoing safety and security efforts” of the schools. 

“Funding will be used by (the) school jurisdiction to implement evidence-based programs to improve school security and promote a positive learning environment for all students,” the presentation said.

The COPS program benefitting Twiggs County is authorized by the STOP School Violence Act, which provides funding directly to states, local governments, Indian tribes and public agencies to improve security at schools. The safety programs that are implemented with the funding are required to meet certain parameters, which include factors such as coordination with law enforcement and placement of tools like metal detectors. 

The school district is required to match a portion of the funds over the three years of the grant. It ends Sept. 30, 2027.