Brockton Public Schools awarded $99,000 Attorney General grant for gun-violence prevention; district and community groups to co-design uses

Brockton Public Schools has been awarded $99,000 from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office to support gun-violence prevention initiatives across the district, district staff said at the April 1 School Committee meeting.

The superintendent invited John Snelgrove and other staff to describe the award and early plans. “We received, from the attorney general's office $99,000 to support gun violence initiatives here in the city, to improve our safety, and support gun violence initiatives throughout our district,” Snelgrove said.

Why it matters: district leaders said the grant will fund work that extends beyond in-school programming and intentionally partners with community organizations to create safe spaces and connect students to supports. The money is available to the district through June 30, 2026, giving staff time to plan and spend funds strategically.

What the district plans: Snelgrove and the superintendent said leaders and community partners have begun discussions about options, stressing a collaborative approach. The district plans to work with grassroots organizers who convened the recent “50 in 1” anti-violence event, and with regional advocacy and prevention groups. Ruth Zacharin of the Mass. Coalition for Gun Violence Prevention was named as a partner the district plans to bring into Brockton.

District and community priorities mentioned in the meeting included expanding after-school and safe‑space opportunities, creating nonjudgmental family support groups, collecting student voices for public service announcements, and piloting targeted supports for students identified as at risk.

Process and oversight: presenters emphasized they are in the early planning stage. The superintendent said the district wants to avoid rushing to purchases or programs without community input and local evidence of likely effectiveness. Several School Committee members urged the district to use the grant to sustain parent‑led, student‑led and place‑based programs built at the recent community event.

Community reaction and next steps: committee members, including those who attended the community “50 in 1” event, urged rapid follow-up to maintain momentum. The district said it will continue outreach, collect names of participants from the event to keep working groups active, and coordinate a planning timeline while complying with grant rules.

Speakers quoted in this article include the superintendent (identified at the meeting by role), John Snelgrove (district staff), and community organizers referenced by name in committee discussion.