OCONOMOWOC, WI- June 29, 2018. The Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) is pleased to announce the district has been awarded $160,000.00 through the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) School Safety Grant program, administered by the DOJ's Office of School Safety. The OASD will use this funding to improve school safety at every school in the district.
Superintendent Dr. Roger Rindo stated, "The State has unquestionably put financial support behind its rhetoric about school safety, and we are very grateful for this level of support from the Department of Justice. These grant dollars will enhance the work we have already done to improve safety measures in our schools. Work on these projects will get underway immediately."
The OASD partnered with local law enforcement agencies throughout the grant development process to ensure that proposed funding, protocols, and school safety plans are effective and provide the safest learning environments possible for all staff and students.
OASD Director of Buildings and Grounds Greg Maroo added, "The District is excited to implement additional safety improvements at our schools. We will be work towards completion of the projects as soon as possible. With this grant approval, we will be able to add safety measures that were prioritized in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies. OASD has made many key safety improvements over the last decade and continually look for additional ways to ensure the safety of our students and staff."
Grant dollars through the DOJ are divided into two categories: the Primary School Safety Grant and Advanced School Safety Grant. DOJ's Primary School Safety Grants focus on standard improvements to schools, including door locks and hardening school entryways. The Advanced School Safety Grants are awarded to schools that have met minimum security thresholds. OASD improvements will include such items as:
- Improving radio communication for district staff and first responders
- Hardening all exterior doors of district schools by installing safety film on entrance windows
- Upgrading classroom door locks at district schools
In addition to making upgrades to school buildings, one of the School Safety Grant prerequisites is providing training in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Trauma-Informed Care/Trauma Sensitive Schools (TIC/TSS). Training for these specific prerequisites will take place for staff during OASD's 2018-19 school year.
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Over the past three months, since 2017 Wisconsin Act 143 was signed into law, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) has consulted with numerous stakeholders in the fields of education, security, law enforcement, and mental health.
In addition to helping keep schools safe from violent attacks, DOJ will be closely monitoring for behavior that could affect a school's ability to pay market rates for products like door locks and shatter-resistant film for glass. DOJ will review and investigate any instances of inappropriate pricing behavior, so the benefits of the program are not reduced.
Following is a list of organizations who met with DOJ staff, and consulted on the creation of the Office of School Safety and the grant process and criteria.
●Association of Wisconsin School Administrators
●Badger State Sheriffs Association
●CESA 4, 7, 10
●Federal Bureau of Investigation
●NAMI-WI
●Wisconsin Association of School Boards
●Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials
●Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators
●Wisconsin Association of School Nurses
●Wisconsin Catholic Conference
●Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association
●Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services
●Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools
●Wisconsin Department of Administration
●Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
●Wisconsin Education Association Council
●Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association
●Wisconsin Juvenile Officers Association
●Wisconsin Professional Police Association
●Wisconsin Retired Educators' Association
●Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools Training & Technical Assistance Center
●Wisconsin School Music Association/Wisconsin Music Educators Association
●Wisconsin School Psychologists Association
●Wisconsin School Public Relations Association
●Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators Association
●Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association
For more information on DOJ's Office of School Safety or to view the full list of schools awarded grant funding, please visit: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/office-school-safety/o...