QACPS announces school safety grant

CENTREVILLE — Queen Anne’s County High School has recently been awarded $70,000 to pursue the hiring of the district’s first School Security Employee (SSE), according to Joe Saboury, coordinator of school safety and security.

As of August, the district received funding from the Maryland Center for School Safety School Resource Officer (SRO) Adequate Coverage Grant under the 2018 Maryland Safe to Learn Act, Saboury said.

This funding allows school districts to hire an employee to serve as a supplement to the SRO already in place, he said. Resource officers already serving the school district fall under the direction and budget of the county sheriff’s office.

The statewide grant funding assists in supplementing law enforcement coverage for public schools with $10 to 15 million in FY26 and $20 million in FY27 and each year thereafter, he said.

As school security is considered a top state priority, a minimum three years of funding following this year is secured, according to Saboury.

“So really that’s putting additional eyes and ears in our schools, which is a wonderful thing,” he said.

As a member of the district, the SSE works more closely with school leaders on safety measures, often outside law enforcement scopes, and are more closely involved with student behavior, support and providing intervention to mitigate and prevent harm, he said.

As district employees, QACPS has the flexibility to utilize SSEs for after school sporting events or field trips Saboury said.

“It’s a great resource that the school district has never had before,” he said.

SSEs are held to the same standards and certification programs through the Maryland for School Safety Model training as SROs.

Training, uniforms, equipment and overtime are all budgeted into the grant with no cost the district, he said.

With the potential for increased funding down the road, Saboury was hopeful to be able to build the program and continually create a safe learning environment for students.