Vermont Business Magazine Danville School District has been awarded a highly competitive School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The award will fund critical safety upgrades that strengthen the district’s ability to protect students and staff while fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment.
The federal grant, totaling $317,000 will support three major infrastructure improvements:
● A campus-wide intercom and emergency communications system;
● An upgraded digital surveillance system with real-time analytics; and
● “Always-locked” interior classroom door mechanisms to expedite lockdowns without compromising accessibility.
“These projects address the three most urgent vulnerabilities identified in our recent National Institute of Justice School Safety Assessment,” said Principal Dr. Sarah Welch. “For a small, rural district like Danville, this federal support means we can move from good intentions to real, lasting safety improvements that protect every child and staff member.” Danville School 148 Peacham Road, Danville, Vermont 05828 802.684.2292 - danville.ccsuvt.net Sarah Welch & Natalie Conway Principal Leadership Team
The new systems will replace decades-old equipment, including a 30-year-old PA system, and ensure that emergency communication reaches every corner of campus, inside and out. “Safety should never depend on a ZIP code,” said Danville School Board Chair Clayton Cargill. “This grant allows us to bring 21st-century safety technology to a historic Vermont school while respecting both student privacy and community values.”
Local partners including the Vermont State Police, Caledonia County Sheriff’s Office, Danville Volunteer Fire Department, and Washington County Mental Health Services will play key roles in implementation and ongoing training.
Danville School serves roughly 300 students in grades PreK–12 in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, one of the most rural and economically challenged regions in the state. Due to the district’s small tax base, its ability to finance large capital projects is typically limited. The SVPP grant will enable improvements that would otherwise be financially out of reach.
“This is a win for our students, our families, and our community,” said Principal of Danville High School Natalie Conway. “Federal investment in rural school safety is an investment in Vermont’s future.”
The district anticipates completing the project within 18 months, following all federal and state procurement guidelines, and will integrate the new systems into its Emergency Operations Plan and regular safety drills.
This award is especially significant for Vermont, which has historically received limited funding through this federal program. Prior to Danville’s substantial award, there had been only two Vermont recipients among the 1,208 awards nationwide since the SVPP Grant’s inception in 2018. The COPS application represents a new collaborative effort between district leadership and pro bono grant consultants from Green Mountain GrantWorks to secure Federal, State, and private funding for Danville School. This marks the third successful award the team has earned since launching its grants initiative at the start of the school year. Earlier awards include a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation’s NEK Fund, supporting the purchase of cutting-edge digital telescopes and creative technology to enhance STEAM education, and a Little Free Library awarded through the Impact Library Grant Program to expand literacy access for students.
Danville, Vermont – 11/05/2025 — Danville School District https://danville.ccsuvt.net.
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