A local sheriff’s office in the district U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) represents recently secured almost $250,000 in federal funding to help end school violence, following the member’s work in Congress to bolster school safety.
“The safety of our students is critically important, and this funding will help ensure that teachers and children feel safe and secure when they go to school,” Rep. Katko said on Oct. 7.
The $249,989 new funding award from the U.S. Department of Justice is part of the federal STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, which supports efforts by state, local and federally recognized Indian tribes to prevent and reduce school violence.
Onondaga County (N.Y.) Sheriff Gene Conway said funding will be used by his office to train school personnel and educate students to prevent violence.
“This award will help facilitate the progress that has already begun here in Onondaga County and will build on the momentum necessary to provide for a safe environment in our schools,” Conway said in joining Rep. Katko during a Syracuse, N.Y., event to announce the award.
The funds also will be used to develop and operate anonymous reporting systems against threats of school violence, such as mobile telephone applications, hotlines and websites, according to Rep. Katko’s office.
Additionally, the funding award will help develop a school threat assessment and crisis intervention team, and improve mental health intervention and response training for school officials, his office said.
“Following the horrific shooting in Parkland, Florida, last year I joined Sheriff Conway to urge support for federal grant programming to allow partnerships between law enforcement and school districts to prevent school violence and keep our children safe,” said Rep. Katko. “This new award will allow the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department to involve school resource officers, teachers, and students in implementing school safety training, and will provide greater access to mental health programs.”