Why KY Gov. Andy Beshear is giving Fayette schools $43,900 for gang prevention

Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday awarded the Fayette County Board of Education $43,900 to implement an evidence-based school violence and gang prevention program in 16 elementary schools.

In all, Beshear awarded more than $1.3 million in federal grant funding to 12 organizations in Kentucky through the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program to increase public safety in the state, a news release said.

On Friday, Fayette Schools District Chief of Staff Tracy Bruno told the Herald-Leader, “Fayette County Public Schools is using the grant money to train select police officers that instruct G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) in the areas of de-escalation strategies and conflict resolution. G.R.E.A.T. is a program that started in 1991 and provides students with opportunities to model and practice life skills such as respect and empathy.”

“This program is not utilized in FCPS due to gang concerns,” Bruno said.