Daviess County Public Schools has been awarded nearly $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) to enhance security and safety measures across the district.
The funding comes through the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), a competitive grant initiative that supports evidence-based approaches to improving school safety on campuses nationwide.
Assistant Superintendent Matt Mason said the award represents a significant step forward in protecting students and staff.
“Receiving the COPS SVPP grant represents a vital investment in cultivating a safer, more secure school environment for Daviess County Public Schools,” Mason said.
District officials said the grant will fund several key projects, including:
- A new district-wide radio system providing a dedicated, reliable communication platform for voice, text, and data across school grounds, buses, and off-site locations.
- Implementation of the Wayfinder Tablet transportation system, which offers enhanced navigation with turn-by-turn voice directions based on planned bus routes.
- Installation of additional video cameras in elementary schools to expand monitoring capabilities.
“This grant is more than funding — it’s an investment in the safety and future of our students,” said DCPS Police Chief Gary Mattingly. “We are grateful to the COPS Office for partnering with us to strengthen school security and support the well-being of our entire school community.”
Superintendent Charles Broughton said the district will use the funds to improve efficiency as well as security.
“The grant will enable us to improve safety in multiple areas and operate more effectively and efficiently throughout the district,” Broughton said. “We thank the COPS Office for choosing to award DCPS the grant funding.”
