$1 million grant funds expanded bullying prevention in Allendale schools

The Allendale County School District announced on January 16, 2026 that it will use a $1,000,000 STOP School Violence grant, with support from the U.S. Department of Justice and a local partnership with Clemson University, to launch an expanded bullying prevention and student safety program for the county’s schools.

District leaders said the funding will pay for training, prevention efforts, and direct student supports. The program includes deployment of two school climate specialists and a social worker who will work with small student groups, assist teachers with classroom management, and provide trauma-informed services. The social worker will carry a dedicated caseload recommended by families and the special services department, allowing for targeted follow-up with students identified by parents or staff.

The district has already held an anti-bullying week that culminated in a student rally as part of the rollout. Planned activities funded by the grant include training for school resource officers, town hall meetings, safety and security sessions, family engagement days, and regular surveys to measure program impact and school climate changes over time. Clemson University will partner on training and program design, bringing academic support to the district’s implementation and monitoring efforts.

Superintendent Dr. Vallerie Cave emphasized the priority of strengthening staff-student relationships and improving proactive communication with families as core elements of the strategy. School climate specialists are expected to work directly with classroom teachers on management techniques intended to reduce incidents that escalate into bullying and to create clearer channels for reporting and support.

For Allendale County residents, the grant translates into on-the-ground personnel and structured outreach designed to reduce harms linked to bullying and trauma, improve student engagement, and provide families more avenues to raise safety concerns. Regular surveys planned by the district aim to produce measurable indicators of progress, which officials say will guide adjustments during the grant period.

The $1,000,000 award represents a concentrated federal investment in the district’s safety infrastructure and community supports. Long-term effectiveness will depend on the district’s ability to use survey data and partner resources to sustain successful interventions beyond the grant timeline and to integrate the new positions and practices into regular operations.

What comes next for families and school staff are the scheduled town hall meetings and family engagement days intended to explain program services, introduce the new specialists and social worker, and gather community input that will shape how the district measures and maintains a safer school climate.