DUSD earns $6 million grant to promote safety, health

The Dysart Unified School District was awarded a $6 million federal grant — the largest competitive grant awarded to Dysart — to promote safe schools and healthy students.

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grant Initiative is a highly competitive grant program awarded by the U.S. departments of education, health and human services and justice. Dysart was one of 55 districts awarded funding out of 355 applications submitted.

The initiative provides DUSD $6 million over the next four years and helps districts create safe learning environments, promote healthy childhood development and prevent youth violence and drug use.

Under the initiative, Dysart will work in partnership with local public mental health agencies, law enforcement and juvenile justice entities to implement a community-wide plan focusing on the following elements:

• Safe school environments and violence prevention.

• Alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention.

• Student behavioral, social and emotional supports.

• Mental health services.

• Early childhood social and emotional learning programs.

Grant recipients’ plans are designed to:

• Provide students, schools and families with a network of services, supports and activities to help students develop the skills and emotional resilience necessary to promote positive mental health, engage in pro-social behavior and prevent violent behavior and drug use.

• Create schools and communities that are safe, disciplined and drug-free environments.

• Engage parents, community organizations and social service agencies to develop an infrastructure that will sustain grant components after federal funding has ended.

Dysart’s Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative will be implemented under the direction of the district’s Student Services Director Sheila Argeris and Prevention Coordinator Debbie Olson.