MARTIN, KY (WMDJ) — At the October regular board meeting, the Floyd County School District announced it has been awarded nearly half a million dollars through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to improve safety for students and staff across the district.

The award comes through the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), administered by the Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office. Each year, the COPS office offers a limited number of competitive grants to school districts and local governments nationwide to strengthen security and emergency response capabilities.

Chief Safety Officer Thomas Gearheart, Chief Communications Officer Bobby Akers, and Digital Learning Coach Jason King worked together to prepare and submit the district’s application for the grant.

Floyd County’s application focused on upgrading the district’s outdated intercom systems, many of which are between 30 and 40 years old. Chief of Safe Schools Thomas Gearheart said the project will bring every school under one modern, unified communication network, allowing emergency alerts to be broadcast instantly across the district instead of school-by-school.

The total project cost is about $625,000, with the grant covering 75 percent and the district contributing the remaining 25 percent as a required match. Once completed, the new system will improve coordination with local law enforcement, ensuring faster notification in the event of countywide emergencies or safety concerns.

Gearheart said the project is scheduled to take place over the next three years, with completion expected by October 2028, and added that the district continues to pursue every opportunity to enhance safety and preparedness for all students and staff.