COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 136
September 21, 2001
INFORMATIONAL
| TO: |
Division Superintendents |
| FROM: |
Jo Lynne DeMary
Superintendent of Public Instruction |
| SUBJECT: |
Project SERV Funds
to Virginia |
The U.S.Department of Education (USDOE) is
making available $500,000 for distribution to school divisions in Virginia
that have been affected by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
These funds are from Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence)
under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. The funds are
intended to provide education-related services to school divisions in which
the learning environment has been disrupted by a violent or traumatic crisis.
Examples of activities that may be funded by
Project SERV include mental health services, overtime for teachers, counselors,
security staff, and substitute teachers. Project SERV funds may not be
used for construction or for medical services (see Attachment A for allowable
activities).
In keeping with the spirit of directives from
USDOE, we intend to make the application process as easy as possible for
school divisions, and at the same time calling attention to the fact that
appropriate accountability for these funds must be maintained.
-
All of the available funds will be awarded to
school division applicants. No funds will be maintained by the Virginia
Department of Education (VADOE) for administrative or other purposes.
-
Project SERV funds are intended to provide education-related
services to school divisions in which the learning environment has been
disrupted by a violent or traumatic crisis. School divisions applying for
funds must demonstrate that the learning environment has been disrupted
as a direct result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
-
Costs must be in addition to costs that the school
division would have incurred in the absence of the attacks.
-
To the extent possible, school divisions receiving
funds under Project SERV must provide for equitable participation by private
school students and teachers.
-
Funds will be disbursed to eligible school divisions
within 45 days after the receipt of funding from the U.S. Department of
Education.
-
Within 15 days after the last award is made, the
VADOE must submit a report to the USDOE. The report will include a list
of school divisions receiving funds, the amount of funds awarded, the basis
on which the funds were awarded, a brief description of the activities
planned by the school division, and a copy of each school division’s budget
request.
It is the intent of the VADOE to award 20 grants
of no more than $25,000 each. Applications must be received by the VADOE
no later than Friday, October 12,2001. The recipients of the awards will
be announced no later than October 19, 2001.
Questions about the Project SERV grants may
be directed to Arlene Cundiff (mail to:acundiff@mail.vak12ed.edu),
coordinator of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program at (804) 225-2871.
JLD/ADC/saj
/administrators/superintendents_memos/2001/inf136a.pdf
/administrators/superintendents_memos/2001/inf136b.pdf