USD 489

USD 489 was selected by Midwest Energy to receive a grant in the amount of $980 to purchase workbooks to train area school officials and emergency responders in the PREPaRE curriculum.

This grant will allow for the purchase of 28 workbooks for the first workshop within the training series that focuses on crisis prevention and preparedness and comprehensive school safety planning.

Julie Zollinger, Hays Middle School psychologist, Theresa Clark, TMP and Holy Family counselor, and Josh Tanguay, FHSU virtual college instructor, became certified to teach the PREPaRE curriculum this year.

Prepare stands for: P—Prevent and PREPaRE for psychological trauma R—Reaffirm physical health and perceptions of security and safety E—Evaluate psychological trauma risk P—Provide interventions a—and R—Respond to psychological needs E—Examine the effectiveness of crisis prevention and intervention.

The team of three will work together over the course of the next year to provide training for school administrators, counselors, teachers, other school district personnel, police, fire, EMS, highway patrol and Homeland Security personnel within Ellis and Rooks counties.

The first of these trainings will be on May 30. The Hays Schools Crisis Committee will continue to seek other grant opportunities to fund these trainings.

“Thank you to Midwest Energy for supporting this very worthwhile cause in the community and for their continued investment in Hays schools,” USD 489 said in a news release.