The district is pleased to announce that COMPASS Unity, the community’s drug abuse prevention coalition, has been awarded a 2018 Federal Drug-Free Communities Grant by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in cooperation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Totaling $125,000 per year for five years, the grant can be renewed annually for up to 10 years and will assist the district substantially in its substance use and abuse programs. 

“This grant will certainly assist the district in its ongoing initiatives, activities and programs targeting substance use and abuse by youth in the community,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani said. “We are excited to be one of the 720 recipients nationwide that received funding to strengthen our objectives to prevent and reduce substance use and abuse and the factors in the community that may contribute to this behavior.”

District social worker Lynette Murphy explained that South Country Central School District, which funds COMPASS, is currently developing an action plan to maximize use of the grant money through development of a youth coalition and adoption of an evidence-based curricula to address primary and secondary-level students. Select faculty will also attend Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America academy training. This coming spring, the district will also host a youth summit for eighth-grade leaders interested in assisting the district in goals and objectives targeting substance use and abuse.