WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (D-WA-02) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01) sent a letter of support to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for a federal grant to help offset costs the district incurred after the school shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in October.
The Project SERV grant would help reimburse the school district for transportation expenditures, as extra funds were needed to ensure students were able to get to school, as well as costs for substitute teachers, who stood in for classroom staff who were unable to immediately return to work following the tragedy.
“We are proud of the strength and resilience the Marysville community has shown by celebrating these young people and giving thanks for their lives, though they were cut terribly short. Over the coming weeks and months, the Marysville community will need a great deal of support as they restore stability to the campus, rebuild a supportive learning environment, and heal the emotional damage brought about by this traumatic event,” the members of the delegation wrote in the letter.
Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence) grants, issued through the Department of Education, provide funding for short and long-term education-related services for school districts and institutions of higher education to help these educational institutions recover from violent or traumatic events. Last year, Senators Murray and Cantwell and Reps. Larsen and DelBene helped secure a Project SERV grant for the Darrington School District after the State Route 530 mudslide.
Full text of the delegation’s letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan below:
Dear Secretary Duncan,
As you know, on October 24, 2014, Washington state suffered a terrible tragedy, when a shooting in the Marsyville-Pilchuck High School cafeteria took the lives of five students, including the shooter. While the rapid and courageous efforts from individuals inside the school prevented further loss of life, this violent act has deeply shaken the high school and the community.
As you well know, the wounds inflicted by this tragedy extend beyond the physical injuries sustained in Marysville-Pilchuck High School. We are proud of the strength and resilience the Marysville community has shown by celebrating these young people and giving thanks for their lives, though they were cut terribly short. Over the coming weeks and months, the Marysville community will need a great deal of support as they restore stability to the campus, rebuild a supportive learning environment, and heal the emotional damage brought about by this traumatic event.
In response to this violence, we would like to offer our strong support for the Project SERV grant application submitted by Marysville-Pilchuck High School. We believe this flexible funding stream will offer vital assistance to the school in the aftermath of the October 24th shooting.
The Washington state delegation appreciates the support the Department of Education has provided for schools in our state and nation which have experienced similar trauma, and thanks the Department as it works quickly to support Marysville-Pilchuck High School’s recovery.
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