PARIS, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) – Paris Union School District No. 95 announced Tuesday that they received notification from the U.S. Dept. of Justice that the school district had been awarded a very competitive federal grant for preventing school violence.
The total amount awarded on Monday was $278,802 over three years.
Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Larson said in the past semester, the school district had been dealing with increased rates of students with poor mental health condition from the prolonged pandemic.
He said the conditions have resulted in students being hospitalized in mental health facilities throughout the state, including Springfield. Additionally, the school district has been participating with community members, the City of Paris, Paris Police Department, Edgar County Sheriff’s Office, and State’s Attorney on developing a neighborhood watch group.
Dr. Larson said he is excited to continue to bring funds to the school district in an effort to strengthen the community.
Areas of focus with this grant will include mental health, community collaboration, and safety education. This brings the total of competitive grants for Paris 95 to $4,742,057 since July 1, 2021. On average, the administrative team at Paris 95 has been bringing in $790,342 in competitive grants per month.
Dr. Larson credits this achievement to the high level of community collaboration that occurs
throughout the Paris 95 schools. In the past year, Paris 95 has hosted over thirty meetings with
the community ranging from presenting at community groups, hearings on school funding,
public meetings to discuss grant funding, supper with the superintendent dinners, public
meetings regarding COVID-19, and recently open hearings on school safety.
Dr. Larson said the open line of communication has developed a strong bond between the school district and the public making it easier to identify needs, find partnerships, and work on locating resources together.
