Tuscaloosa City Schools Awarded $1M Safety Grant

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa City Schools announced this week that it has received a $1 million federal safety grant that will be used to help plan strategies before a crisis happens.

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Awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, the supplemental funding represents the first time that the system has received the specific grant, which will see the funds spread out over three years.

The “Project SAFE” grant aims to cultivate a more proactive approach to crisis management in schools by involving students, staff, parents and the community, along with area mental and public health agencies and the Tuscaloosa Police Department.

The grant will also also pays for the recently hired safety specialist for the school system, in addition to providing safety training and a refined threat assessment process within TCS schools.

Janet Sherrod, executive director of learning support for the Tuscaloosa City Schools, said the grant money will help the city school system move forward with many of the goals that are already in place.

“Project SAFE will build the capacity of TCS schools to support the safety of all youth by engaging all stakeholders in cross-sector planning with law enforcement to make the district’s crisis intervention plans as solid as possible,” Sherrod added. "This grant aligns well with goals found in the TCS Strategic Plan."

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