The U.S. Department of Education announced it will award St. Mary’s County Board of Education a Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) grant, which will support recovery efforts at Great Mills High School following a recent deadly shooting.
On March 20, a student opened fire at the Maryland school, killing one student and injuring another before turning the gun on himself. The gunman and the deceased victim had previously been in a relationship.
Project SERV grants provide critical support to school districts and institutions of higher education that have experienced a traumatic event and need additional resources to help in the recovery process, according to the press release.
“This SERV grant will help to provide essential services that will aid in the healing and recovery process for those affected by the tragic school shooting at Great Mills High School,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “My heart is broken for all of those who have suffered the impacts of school violence in St. Mary’s County and across the country. The Federal School Safety Commission is working to find common-sense solutions to bolster school safety and help prevent such incidents.”
St. Mary’s County will use the $189,202 to support recovery efforts at the school, including additional staffing support and mental health services.