Questar III BOCES - STOP School Violence Grant

New York Safe Start

Project Abstract

Questar III Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) respectfully requests funding for the New York Safe Start Project. Through this comprehensive project, Questar III is partnering with WSWHE BOCES and 10 additional school districts to launch evidence-based technology packages that will dramatically improve safety at 28 different schools. New York Safe Start will bring anonymous reporting, social-emotional learning, and panic notification to all partnering schools.  

Questar III and the partner districts developed New York Safe Start in response to increasing safety incidences, discipline problems, and students in need of social and emotional developmental support. Since 2018, more than 40 serious school safety events have been reported in these districts, including threats of shootings, bombings, arson, and other forms of violence. Additionally, an increasing number of children are demonstrating need for social-emotional support, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19 school closures and interruptions.

Questar III will lead a competitive bid process to secure a contractor that can provide the following:

Anonymous reporting service with incident monitoring
Panic escalation
Social-Emotional Learning resources

Questar III, WSWHE, and ten partnering districts in New York are requesting your support to bring these life-saving interventions to our schools.