District applied for School Violence Prevention grant; board critiques language about SROs and restorative approaches

Peoria Unified staff informed the governing board that the district submitted a School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) grant application seeking funds for security cameras, high‑school door access control and handheld metal detectors.

Mr. Merlino (transportation/operations lead) and safety staff said the district accelerated the timeline to meet a June application deadline and used a hired grant writer to consolidate responses to required questions. The administration described the process as collaborative, noting letters of support and input from local police, fire departments and the Arizona Department of Education’s school safety staff. The district emphasized the application was prepared from documentation and procedures in effect during the previous school year.

After the update, several board members raised concerns about language in the grant narrative that they said could be misread by the grant reviewer and the public. Those members said wording in the application that discussed “restorative practices” and drew a distinction between school resource officers (SROs) and law enforcement could be interpreted as minimizing or “criminalizing” routine campus safety partners or reflecting terminology the board did not intend. President Rooks and other trustees said the narrative’s phrasing did not reflect the specific agreements Peoria Unified has with the City of Peoria and the City of Glendale concerning SRO and school liaison roles.

Trustees asked administration whether a remedial step could be taken if the district is awarded the grant — for example, following award with a clarifying memorandum or board statement — and requested follow‑up with the grant manager. Mr. Merlino said the district can inquire with the grant manager if an award is made and will research options for clarifying language.

Board members also asked for transparency about who drafted final narrative sections. Mr. Merlino said the district answered questionnaires prepared by the grant writer; he, Mr. Richards (safety director) and Doctor Walters contributed to answers, the grant writer consolidated the responses and Merlino gave final approval before submission.

No board action was taken on the application at the meeting. Trustees requested a follow‑up briefing if the district is awarded funds and asked administration to explore whether a corrective or clarifying statement could be appended to the award or otherwise recorded so the district’s formal position and its intergovernmental agreements with local law enforcement are clear.

The SVPP grants are competitive and award timelines vary; administration noted that award announcements sometimes come in October or later even though the grant performance period begins in October.