Partners in the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative in Bradley County have stretched the three-year grant’s funds into a fourth year and already have money for nine partners to continue their work.

Dr. Matt Ryerson, project coordinator for the nearly $9 million grant, said money will come from interest earned on the $19 million endowment of the Bradley Memorial Hospital Fund.

“Our goal through Safe Schools/Healthy Students is to help with grant writing, and we also have people constantly on the lookout for funding sources,” Dr. Ryerson said. The next grant writing workshop will be Sept. 25 at the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.

The grant joins local nonprofit groups with the school system on mental and physical health initiatives in areas from child behavior to community involvement such as the Boy Scouts. A large part of that work involves safety for school buildings, personnel and students through training and staffing in security.

Dr. Ryerson said the 12 grant partners not funded from the endowment must continue to work toward sustainability. Many have already found funding and will continue to seek out more opportunities.

“Really, the decision comes down to individual programs to look at different grants, private donors, anywhere they can find funding,” Dr. Ryerson said.

While building on partnerships made under the grant that many have called vital, the dual role of safety and health has continued in two major areas.

One program that will continue is the Behavioral Research Institute, which began an anger management and conflict resolution program for preschoolers and elementary school students.

Dr. Tom Biller, executive director, said a combination of outside and United Way funding will continue the program.

A position that hasn’t been picked up for funding yet is the newly created school safety and security coordinator.

Brian Quinn, a 15-year officer with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department, took the job in February. Working with administrators and school resource officers in city and county schools, Mr. Quinn has helped upgrade technology and assess security concerns at the systems’ 25 buildings, which house more than 14,200 students.

Mr. Quinn, principals and SROs have responded to a 2006 safety evaluation, adding communications equipment and cameras and changing emergency plans and day-to-day policy.

“What it has done most for us is it’s given students, teachers and staff a sounding board that’s also helpful for students and families,” said Walker Valley High School principal Danny Coggin.

Cleveland High School principal Chuck Rockholt likes the safety initiative.

“I think ... we are more aware, more observant of students’ behaviors, doorways, visitors in the building,” Mr. Rockholt said.

He said during the first week of school a visitor entered the school with no identification badge. A teacher stopped the person and called to verify if he was supposed to be in the building.

Parents may think most about school shootings, he said, but more common dangers such as severe weather, crime at businesses or industrial accidents also could affect the school.

Schools have different concerns, principals said, but working through the grant with Mr. Quinn has proved fruitful.

“The biggest security and safety measure we have is our students and staff, and if we educate them, we bring it all together,” Mr. Coggin said. “This helps us share ideas.”

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