At the May 29 governing board meeting, the Peoria Unified Governing Board voted unanimously to approve applying for a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, reinforcing the district’s continued commitment to safe and secure learning environments across all 43 schools.

If awarded, the federal grant would provide up to $500,000 in funding. The district will contribute a 25% match, or $168,390, bringing the total safety project investment to $668,390.

This federal Community Oriented Policing Services grant is part of the School Violence Prevention Program established following the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

The grant funds would be used to cover the cost of adding additional cameras on school campuses, improve interior and exterior door access systems, and handheld weapons detectors. This initiative builds upon the district’s ongoing investment in student and staff safety.

In recent years, Peoria Unified has implemented a series of critical safety enhancements, including:
• Hiring four full-time safety team members with deep expertise in emergency planning and response
• Installing exterior security cameras at all campuses

• Deploying vape detection sensors in school restrooms
• Renovating school front office areas to enhance security and controlled access
• Partnering with Glendale and Peoria Police Departments through the Real Time Crime Center camera integration
• Launching ParentSquare, a unified communication platform for updates in the event of a crisis
• Implementing RAVE, an emergency alert system used in conjunction with 9-1-1 calls across all sites
• Deploying Raptor, a volunteer and visitor management system to ensure efficient and secure guest screening
• Updating restroom safety protocols to enhance student privacy and prevent misconduct

In addition to these newer safety initiatives, the district takes a multi-layered approach to safety which includes emergency response drills and preparedness training for all staff. Additional details about Peoria Unified’s approach to prioritizing safety may be viewed online at www.peoriaunified.org/safety.