Districts receive emergency prep funds

Five Utah school districts will collectively receive about $1 million of a federal grant to improve and strengthen emergency management plans.

"It's wonderful. It will give us a chance to help educate and protect our children," said Greg Hudnall, Provo School District director of student services.

The Utah districts applied for a slice of a nationwide $26 million grant through the U.S. Department of Education. Those receiving money are:

Uintah District — $248,343

Washington District — $249,810

Tooele District — $249,822

Provo District — $99,387

Providence Hall, a charter school in Herriman — $113,224.

Grants were generally based on need.

The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools discretionary grant program will enable 108 school districts nationally to improve plans that address all four phases of emergency management: prevention-mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

"The safety of our kids is our number one priority," according to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Projects should support the implementation of the National Incident Management System. They are to include plans designed to prepare districts for infectious disease outbreaks and take into consideration districts' special needs populations.

Uintah district will use its grant for training staff, purchasing emergency supplies and coordinating with emergency officials, said Mark Dockins, Uintah district assistant superintendent over student services.

"We want to protect all our 6,500 students from anything that could happen, from the H1N1 virus to fire," Dockins said.

Provo district will use its funding to "take it to the next level" with upgrades, including the district's emergency preparedness manuals, Hudnall said.

Washington district will focus its grant money on training.

e-mail: astewart@desnews.com