Poughkeepsie schools get federal money to improve safety and culture

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Poughkeepsie High School. MHNN file photo.

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) has been awarded federal funding to improve safety in the troubled district. The nearly $1 million in funds, spread over three years, is issued by the US Department of Justice’s “Office of Justice Programs” (DOJ) and will be used to support the district’s objectives regarding school safety while improving the culture and climate within the PCSD.

In January of this year, the PCSD received a $500,000 grant to improve school security.

The “STOP School Violence Program” through the DOJ will support the district’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan objectives. The Strategic Plan report can be found here.

PCSD Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser used community input and developed the Strategic Plan that cited several goals, including the culture and climate.  Rosser listed much of what he learned, including “A great need to transform the culture and climate of PCSD schools by establishing a student-centered culture built on addressing the social, emotional, and wellness needs of our students in collaboration with parents, students, community members, and staff.”

The STOP School Violence program is based on the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (or STOP School Violence Act).

The goal of the act is to increase school safety by:

  • Implementing training that will improve school climate using school-based behavioral threat
    assessments and/or intervention teams to identify school violence risks among students.
  • Technological solutions such as anonymous reporting technology using a mobile phone-based app, hotline, or a website in the applicant’s geographic area to enable students, teachers, staff, and community members to anonymously identify threats of school violence; or other school safety strategies that assist in preventing violence.

The funding, which amounts to approximately $900,000 over the next three years will support:

  • Salaries of the two social-emotional counselors at Poughkeepsie Middle and High Schools.
  • Training in suicidal awareness and prevention training.
  • Purchasing anonymous threat reporting technology.
  • Securing supplies and materials.

This program will be implemented by PCSD Executive Director of School Engagement Da’Ron Wilson.

A planning meeting with multiple stakeholders is tentatively scheduled for a date in November.




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