Harlingen schools land $1 million grant to prevent violence

The school district is landing a $1 million federal grant aimed at bolstering security.

The grant funded through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s STOP School Violence Program will support the district’s “Safe Schools, Bright Futures” project launched “to prevent school violence and foster a positive environment across its 12 secondary schools,” officials said Wednesday in a press release.

”This project will address the mental health needs of students and enhance safety protocols through comprehensive staff training, educational programs for students and the hiring of dedicated personnel,” officials said.

“This grant is more than just financial support — it’s an affirmation of our shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every student in Harlingen CISD,” interim Superintendent Veronica Kortan said in a press release.

“Through our Safe Schools, Bright Futures initiative, we’re taking meaningful steps to address critical safety and mental health needs while fostering a positive and supportive climate on our secondary campuses,” she said. “This funding is an investment in the hearts and minds of our students, staff and parents, ensuring a secure and nurturing environment where every child can feel safe, supported and empowered to thrive.”

On Monday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Vincente Gonzalez, D-Brownsville, announced the funding.

The funding aims to “improve security through crisis intervention programs, including violence prevention and crisis response training for law enforcement and school resource officers, firearm safety training for community members and data collection, technology and information-sharing to reduce violence,” Cornyn’s office said in a press release.

“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is about mental health, school safety and ensuring that the tragedy that struck Uvalde was not in vain,” Cornyn said, referring to the Uvalde school shootings in 2022. “I’m grateful this law is giving schools across our state the resources needed to keep students, staff and teachers safe.”

Gonzalez said he supported the district program aimed preventing violence.

“Our children should not be afraid to go to school and parents should feel confident that their children will be safe in the classroom,” he said. “It’s our responsibility to provide them with a safe and supportive learning environment. That is why I support Harlingen Consolidated ISD’s initiative to actively prevent school violence.”

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