Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel announced the South Orangetown School District was awarded a $99,518 Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will be to strengthen and improve emergency response and crisis management plans.

Rep. Engel said, “In light of the recent heroism by Superintendent Ken Sanders in thwarting an armed parent who had stormed into the school, the South Orangetown School District seems an appropriate recipient of emergency response funding. The dedication shown to the students and faculty by Superintendent Sanders last month was truly heroic, and I am pleased to see the school district be able to strengthen their already successful emergency planning.”

The REMS discretionary grant program enables school districts to develop improved emergency management plans. The South Orangetown grant is also intended to train school personnel and students, communicate emergency plans and procedures with parents, and coordinate with local first responders, public safety, public health, and mental health agencies.

The 11-term Congressman added, “As a former public school teacher, I know that the protection of our children as they earn an education is paramount. In the event of any type of disaster, attack or outbreak, we must be ready to ensure they are kept out of harms way and funding such as this will go a long way towards helping school districts, such as South Orangetown, be prepared for such an event.”