Smoky Hill Education Service Center has received a grant of $249,998 for the development of anonymous reporting solutions in addressing school safety. The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, announced the grant to SHESC on October 21.
The OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded $29.5 million nationwide through its STOP School Violence Technology and Threat Assessment Solutions for Safer Schools Program. The program is authorized under the STOP School Violence Act of 2018.
SHESC was the only institution in Kansas to receive a grant under the program, which awarded 68 grants to local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes and public agencies. The program directly helps schools by providing school administrators, staff, students and first responders with the ability to use threat assessments, crisis intervention teams and anonymous reporting technology.
SHESC will use the grant to support both existing and planned services for school districts that are designed to address bullying and school violence.
Chris Moddelmog, executive director of SHESC, said the DOJ grant will make a substantial difference at SHESC as it fulfills its mission of providing services to more than 50 school districts across 25 Kansas counties. More than 31,000 students and 2,700 teachers and administrators served by SHESC will benefit from the grant.
“Our vision with this grant is to help as many schools in Kansas as possible to grow a culture of safety and security,” Moddelmog said. “A grant this large will go a long way toward supporting that goal.”
Founded July 1, 1990, Smoky Hill Education Service Center is a cooperative consortium of more than 50 school districts across 25 counties, formed to provide cost and efficiency savings in a variety of educational services for its participating members. The service center’s mission is: “In partnership with school districts, we promote success for learners by providing superior services.” Through staff development classes and services, the service center supports more than 2,700 teachers and administrators – benefitting more than 31,000 students. In addition to educational institutions, any non-profit or governmental organization can benefit from Smoky Hill Education Service Center, either as a member or by selecting needed services.
— Submitted