U.S. Department of Education Awards $28.8 Million to School Districts To Improve Readiness and Emergency Response Plans

Press Release

School districts across the country will be able to improve and strengthen their emergency management plans as a result of $28.8 million in grants awarded today by the U.S. Department of Education. The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) discretionary grant program will enable 98 school districts in 28 states to improve plans that address all four phases of emergency management: Prevention-Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.

"No student should feel unsafe in school," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said. "The fact is that no school can be a great school until it is a safe school first, and these grants will support that effort."

In addition to addressing the four phases of emergency management, plans must commit school districts to coordinate with officials in law enforcement, local government, public safety, public health and mental health; train school officials in emergency management; and provide a method for communicating emergency and reunification procedures to parents and guardians. Projects should support the implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and include plans designed to prepare districts for infectious disease outbreaks and take into consideration districts' special needs populations.

Funds may be used to coordinate with local emergency responders, including fire, police, and health and public health agencies; conduct drills and exercises; purchase emergency supplies and equipment; and to train staff and students on emergency response procedures.

The grants are housed within the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, which supports efforts to create safe schools, respond to crises, prevent drug and alcohol abuse, ensure the health and well being of students, and teach students good citizenship and character. The office also coordinates the Department's efforts in these areas with other federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A complete list of the 98 grant awards follows:

ALABAMA

Russellville City Schools
Russellville, AL
$128,854

ARIZONA

Paradise Valley Unified School District No. 69
Phoenix, AZ
$645,106

CALIFORNIA

Antioch Unified School District
Antioch, CA
$295,774

Chico Unified School District
Chico, CA
$443,906

Chula Vista Elementary School District
Chula Vista, CA
$297,849

Coachella Valley Unified School District
Thermal, CA
$280,703

Desert Sands Unified School District
La Quinta, CA
$254,968

Fresno Unified School District
Fresno, CA
$556,660

Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
City of Industry, CA
$212,285

Imperial County Office of Education
El Centro, CA $313,122

Kern County Superintendent of Schools
Bakersfield, CA
$564,251

Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles, CA $710,053

McKinleyville Union School District
McKinleyville, CA
$149,269

Merced Union High School District
Atwater, CA
$165,331
Oceanside Unified School District
Oceanside, CA
$270,566

Orange Unified School District
Orange, CA
$600,824

Petaluma School District
Petaluma, CA
$584,923

Sacramento City Unified School District
Sacramento, CA
$576,659

Santa Ana Unified School District
Santa Ana, CA
$612,423

South Bay Union Elementary School District
Eureka, CA
$121,112

Tustin Unified School District
Tustin, CA $358,476

West Contra Costa Unified School District
Richmond, CA
$578,262

COLORADO

Denver Public Schools
Denver, CO
$319,207

Summit School District
Frisco, CO
$149,573

FLORIDA

District School Board of Pasco County
Land O'Lakes, FL
$552,568

Marion County Public Schools
Ocala, FL
$282,222

School Board of Orange County
Orlando, FL
$626,027

GEORGIA

Burke County Board of Education
Waynesboro, GA
$151,453

ILLINOIS

Carbondale Elementary School District
Carbondale, IL
$199,577

Chicago Public Schools
Chicago, IL
$599,870

Geneva Community Unit School District #304
Geneva, IL
$374,545

Oregon Community Unit School District #220
Oregon, IL
$149,926

Raccoon Consolidated Elementary School District #1
Centralia, IL
$149,343

Urbana School District
Urbana, IL
$150,636

INDIANA

Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township
Indianapolis, IN
$303,365

Monroe County Community School Corporation
Bloomington, IN
$263,524

White River Valley School District
Switz City, IN
$170,205

KANSAS

USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden
Manhattan, KS
$299,855

KENTUCKY

Breathitt County Board of Education
Jackson, KY
$150,000

Covington Independent Public Schools
Covington, KY
$298,394

Grant County Board of Education
Williamstown, KY
$149,860

Green River Regional Education Cooperative
Bowling Green, KY
$346,576

Perry County Board of Education
Hazard, KY
$147,500

Pulaski County School District
Somerset, KY
$165,895

Wolfe County Board of Education
Campton, KY
$150,000

LOUISIANA

Caddo Parish School Board
Shreveport, LA
$429,737

Lafourche Parish School Board
Thibodaux, LA
$298,673

Livingston Parish Public Schools
Livingston, LA
$456,485

Ouachita Parish School Board
Monroe, LA
$300,000

MARYLAND

Montgomery County Public Schools
Rockville, MD
$213,833

MASSACHUSETTS

Brockton Public Schools
Brockton, MA
$299,310

Cambridge Public Schools
Cambridge, MA
$306,105

Weston Public Schools
Weston, MA
$147,667

MICHIGAN

Lenawee Intermediate School District
Adrian, MI
$231,034

Newaygo Public Schools
Newaygo, MI
$174,409

MINNESOTA

Independent School District 622
North St. Paul, MN
$295,218

Northeast Metropolitan Independent School District 916
White Bear Lake, MN
$374,810

MISSISSIPPI

Senatobia Municipal School District
Senatobia, MS
$149,142

NEBRASKA

South Sioux City Community School District
South Sioux City, NE
$139,616

NEW JERSEY

Butler Public School District
Butler, NJ
$179,800

Hillsborough Township Board of Education
Hillsborough, NJ
$149,990

Stafford Township School District
Manahawkin, NJ
$149,562

NEW YORK

Corning City School District
Painted Post, NY
$149,960

Half Hollow Hills Central School District
Dix Hills, NY
$150,000

New York City Department of Education
New York, NY
$598,450

Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation
New York, NY
$439,159

Rocky Point Union Free School District #9
Rocky Point, NY
$139,987

OHIO

Centerburg School District
Centerburg, OH
$135,982

Princeton Public Schools
Cincinnati, OH
$239,270

Southwestern City Schools
Grove City, OH
$300,560

OKLAHOMA

Beggs Public Schools
Beggs, OK
$149,374

Belfonte Public Schools
Muldrow, OK
$139,079

Hominy Public Schools
Hominy, OK
$142,639

Mooreland Public Schools
Mooreland, OK
$108,103

Mulhall Orlando Public Schools
Orlando, OK
$135,069

Stilwell Public Schools
Stilwell, OK
$150,000

Walters Public Schools
Walters, OK
$146,388

Warner Public Schools
Warner, OK
$149,089

Watts Public Schools
Watts, OK
$145,346

OREGON

Grants Pass School District No. 7
Grants Pass, OR
$149,983

School District 1J Multnomah County
Portland, OR
$658,206

PENNSYLVANIA

School District of Lancaster
Lancaster, PA
$297,910

SOUTH CAROLINA

Laurens County School District 56
Clinton, SC
$133,964

TENNESSEE

Franklin Special School District
Franklin, TN
$149,800

TEXAS

Education Service Center Region 12
Waco, TX
$649,511

Education Service Center Region 20
San Antonio, TX
$557,161

Fort Worth Independent School District
Fort Worth, TX
$580,154

Humble Independent School District
Humble, TX
$383,928

Lumberton Independent School District
Lumberton, TX
$123,600

McAllen Independent School District
McAllen, TX
$298,135

Port Arthur Independent School District
Port Arthur, TX
$282,273

Vidor Independent School District
Vidor, TX
$103,976

Waller Independent School District
Waller, TX
$259,530

VIRGINIA

Henry County Public Schools
Collinsville, VA
$213,335

Prince William County Public Schools
Manassas, VA
$672,155

Pulaski County School District
Pulaski, VA
$164,897

WASHINGTON

Northeast Washington Educational Service District 101
Spokane, WA
$286,093

Snoqualmie Valley School District
Snoqualmie, WA
$281,649

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