At the May 29 Governing Board meeting, the Peoria Unified Governing Board voted unanimously to approve applying for a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, reinforcing the district’s continued commitment to safe and secure learning environments across all 43 schools.
If awarded, the federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant—part of the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) established following the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.—would provide up to $500,000 in funding. The district will contribute a 25 percent match, or $168,390, bringing the total safety project investment to $668,390. The grant funds would be used to cover the cost of adding additional cameras on school campuses, improve interior and exterior door access systems, and handheld weapons detectors. This initiative builds upon the district’s ongoing investment in student and staff safety.
In recent years, Peoria Unified has implemented a series of critical safety enhancements, including:
Hiring four full-time safety team members with deep expertise in emergency planning and response
Installing exterior security cameras at all campuses
Deploying vape detection sensors in school restrooms
Renovating school front office areas to enhance security and controlled access
Partnering with Glendale and Peoria Police Departments through the Real Time Crime Center camera integration
Launching ParentSquare, a unified communication platform for updates in the event of a crisis
Implementing RAVE, an emergency alert system used in conjunction with 9-1-1 calls across all sites
Deploying Raptor, a volunteer and visitor management system to ensure efficient and secure guest screening
Updating restroom safety protocols to enhance student privacy and prevent misconduct
In addition to these newer safety initiatives, the district takes a multi-layered approach to safety which includes emergency response drills and preparedness training for all staff. Additional details about Peoria Unified’s approach to prioritizing safety may be viewed online at www.peoriaunified.org/safety.