Lexington County School District Three is one of four school districts in South Carolina that has been awarded grant money from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (also known as the COPS Office). Lexington Three’s grant amount will total $666,769. Altogether, more than $73 million is being awarded and matched nationwide across 46 states as part of the COPS Office’s School Violence Prevention Program. The money must be used to further enhance safety efforts at schools through evidence-based school security programs.
“In Lexington Three, safety is not just a priority, it's our unwavering commitment. Every day, we strive to ensure the well-being of our students, staff, and community members. We consider it our duty to provide an environment where everyone can learn, grow, and thrive as a Panther, free from fear or concern. Safety will always be our foremost goal,” said Todd A. Bedenbaugh, Lexington Three’s Director of Operations.
The COPS Office received 1,022 applications from across the nation and made 206 awards in total. Applications were evaluated on a number of factors including the projected impact of the proposed safety projects, the management/implementation plan for the projects and sustainability of the safety improvements. Please note that Lexington Three is unable to divulge all of the details of the planned security enhancements that will be paid for by the grant in order to safeguard their effectiveness. However, one of the planned improvements includes upgraded and increased camera surveillance across the district.
“We are profoundly grateful for the support that this grant award will provide. This funding will enable us to further bolster the safety and security measures within our school district, ensuring an environment where every student and staff member feels safe and supported and can pursue their goals with confidence and peace of mind, because we believe that a secure educational setting is the foundation for success and growth,” said Dr. Ashley Atkinson, Superintendent of Lexington Three.
For more information about the grant, visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/svpp.