WOODSTOWN, NJ – Salem County Special Services School District (SCSSSD) was awarded a $426,583 grant through the U.S. Department of Justice and the Community Oriented Policing Services program. SCSSD was one of five school districts in New Jersey to receive this funding, selected from a pool of 1,008 applicants from jurisdictions in 49 states and one territory. The competitive award program provides funding to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the grantee’s jurisdiction through evidence-based school safety programs.
With the recent national focus on school safety and security, this grant seeking funding to increase protection for school staff and students is more important now than ever. This funding will be used to enhance protective measures and safeguards across all SCSSSD schools. The district plans to increase security camera systems, add monitors to display safety messages throughout the buildings, and update public address systems.
“We are deeply grateful to have received the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant. This funding will be critical to our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our students, staff, and visitors,” said Jack Swain, Superintendent, SCSSSD. “With these resources, we will be able to upgrade and expand our security infrastructure on both the Cumberland and Daretown Campuses. These improvements will significantly bolster our ability to maintain a safe and secure learning environment, ensuring the well-being of everyone in our school communities.”
The School Violence Prevention Program which is authorized under the STOP (Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing) School Violence Act of 2018, is provided directly to eligible units of local government, Native American tribes, and public government agencies. This year a total of 203 grants were awarded, totaling more than $73 million.
“The grant will aid in our mission to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served,” said Frank H. Maurer, III, Assistant Superintendent, School Business Administrator, and School Safety Specialist. “The ability to obtain these much-needed items will provide us with the security mechanisms in the buildings for a higher level of security for the most precious resources in our buildings, our special needs population.”
Applications were evaluated on factors such as the program impact of the proposed project, financial need, need for improved security, current school safety and planning efforts, funding request and integration information, and the organization’s plans for management and implementation, and sustainability. The grant requires that funds awarded be used to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the grantees’ jurisdictions through evidence-based school safety programs.
“We are extremely proud that Salem County Special Services has received this grant,” said Jamie Moscony, Chairperson of the New Jersey Joint Council of County Special Services School Districts and Superintendent of Cape May County Special Services School District. “This award underscores the continuing dedication of all special services districts toward improving the safety and security of our schools.”
The New Jersey Joint Council of County Special Services School Districts comprises districts from eight counties across the state: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Gloucester, Mercer, Salem, and Warren. The mission of the Joint Council is to promote the unique role of county special services school districts as providers of highly specialized placements for students with severe and multiple disabilities and cost-effective shared services for local districts.
SCSSSD provides high-quality, cost-effective programs and services to the schools and districts of Salem and Cumberland counties as well as parts of Gloucester County. Three campuses serve the students with a tailored educational experience and related services providers who travel between campuses. Cumberland Campus serves school-aged children with severe impairments, Daretown School serves school-aged children with behavioral and emotional disorders, and Salem Campus serves middle and high school-aged students with special needs and is also home to the district’s program for 18- to 21-year-old young adults.
To learn more about SCSSSD, please visit their website scsssd.org.