COPS program grants

[Marcia A. Maziarz]

Anne-Marie Bairstow has sent me the info re: the COPS grant program.  It is a federal program under the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). 

 

$13 million is available in FY2008 to provide funding to law enforcement agencies to assist with the development of school safety resources and provide improved security at schools and on school grounds.  Specifically, this program will fund up to 50% of the total cost to implement one or more of the following options:  placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; security assessments; security training of personnel and students; coordination with local law enforcement; and/or any other measure that may provide a significant improvement in security.

 

The program is only open to law enforcement agencies nationwide. Thus, we as a school or a school district could not apply directly.  The DC Metropolitan Police Department would have to submit the application.  It is competitive, so it is recommended that applicants identify schools with whom they want to develop partnerships and devise a program to enhance or improve school safety and security equipment and/or measures. 

 

MPD would have to secure a 50% local cash match requirement under this grant program.  Grant applications due June 13 either postmarked that day or submitted online.  

 

Anne-Marie felt that MPD would not partner with 1 school only, so they would either have to apply with DCPS as a whole to benefit the entire system, or perhaps a consortium of schools might be interested in approaching MPD to form a partnership for this grant.  It’s a lot to organize and get written by June13. 

 

One thought would be to organize with a group of DCPS middle schools and approach MPD as a group for next year.  I say middle schools because many of the items listed above only seem to apply to middle schools.  However, we could also form a group of local elementary schools (e.g., Ross, Marie Reed, HD Cooke, etc.). 

 

I’m concerned that with all that’s going on right now, it would be difficult to get this going and done by June 13.  Also, MPD would have to do the grant.  Of course, we could write large portions for them, but we would be working with many different schools/agencies to get info to get this done on time. 

 

So, any thoughts?

 

Marcia

[Emily A Heller]

Hi Marcia -

Which week did you say Anna is going to Calleva - June 23rd or June 30?  I am checking Hayley's status on the wait list...
_

[Serena Wiltshire]

Marcia,

 

Thanks for doing such a speedy research job.  It sounds, however, like it would be a lot of effort and perhaps too much to tackle before June 13th.  In the end, too, our school may not receive much benefit from the grant -- the $13 million could potentially be spread out over 50 states and then within DC I'd imagine we're one of the less needy schools.

 

It might be worth looking into the consortium idea next year, but I say don't pour any more time into it right now.

 

Thanks for your expert eye on this.

 

Serena

[Lisa Lynch]

Marcia, thank you for your quick and thorough analysis!!!

I agree that there is a lot going on right now and that it would be difficult to get this going and done by June 13. Did you get a sense from Anne-Marie about how she felt about tabling it and maybe looking into similar possibilities next year?

Thank you!!!!!
Impressed-ly,
Lisa

________________________________
> From: mazi...@rcn.com
> To: oyster-communi...@googlegroups.com

> Subject: OCC COPS program grants

> Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 12:13:35 -0400

[Marcia A. Maziarz]

I didn't. I saw her briefly in the hall at Oyster when I was taking
Anna to school. Told her I needed the grant info. She e-mailed it to
me, and I read through and summarized. She did say that she didn't
think it was feasible for this year. And, she doubted that MPD would do
it only for Oyster. I'm happy to follow up with her regarding next year
if you would like.

If we develop a consortium to approach MPD about a partnership for the
next grant cycle, I'm concerned that in comparison with other schools
throughout DCPS, we may have more already security-wise. We would have
to approach other schools strategically. Of course, I could be wrong
about this. But, for example, Wilson and Cardozo (granted they are high
schools) have pressing security issues, unlike anything we have. So to
the funder, are we compelling enough? I hate to sound callous, but that
is how we would be evaluated.

Perhaps we could position the grant to be a model that could be used
throughout DCPS. But, MPD would really have to buy into and commit to
this strategy.

M

[Lisa Lynch]

Thank you again Marcia. I called and left a message for Anne-Marie, and when I talk with her I will just do a final check-in with her -- it sounds as though everyone, including Anne-Marie, agrees about the feasibility, but I will make sure that Anne-Marie knows how much her interest and willingness to work in this area are appreciated, now and for the future as well. Lisa
----------------------------------------
> From: mazi...@rcn.com
> To: oyster-communi...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: OCC Re: COPS program grants
> Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 17:10:55 -0400

[Lisa Lynch]

Thank you again Marcia. I called and left a message for Anne-Marie, and when I talk with her I will just do a final check-in with her -- it sounds as though everyone, including Anne-Marie, agrees about the feasibility, but I will make sure that Anne-Marie knows how much her interest and willingness to work in this area are appreciated, now and for the future as well. Lisa
----------------------------------------

> From: mazi...@rcn.com
> To: oyster-communi...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: OCC Re: COPS program grants
> Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 17:10:55 -0400

[Lisa Lynch]

OK -- I spoke with Anne-Marie & she is fine with tabling this for this school year. Have a good day everyone.
----------------------------------------
> From: lgl...@msn.com

> To: oyster-communi...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: OCC Re: COPS program grants

> Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 14:54:19 +0000