MOUNT HOREB — Recently, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced the Mount Horeb Area School District will receive nearly $120,000 in federal funding to hire a school social worker and support student recovery in response to the tragic shooting in May 2024. The funding, through the U.S. Department of Education School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) program, was provided by the Baldwin-written and supported Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bill. Senator Baldwin also helped connect the district with federal support as it recovers from the school shooting. 

“Schools should be safe, nurturing environments for students to learn and grow, but sadly, earlier this year, Mount Horeb became one of the too many schools impacted by gun violence,” said Senator Baldwin. “We can and must do more to prevent these senseless acts of gun violence, but, if one of our communities is struck by tragedy, we also need to be there to support our children, teachers, and families recover afterward. I am proud to have worked with the Mt. Horeb community to ensure they have access to the mental health and trauma-informed recovery services needed to respond and move forward.” 

“We are incredibly grateful for the Department of Education’s help in bolstering our District’s support systems for both staff and students. This funding will further enable us to invest in professional development and a dedicated social worker position, fostering an even greater sense of community and belonging within Mount Horeb Area School District. The responses our staff and families provided to our Post-May 1 Planning Survey were essential in crafting a comprehensive system of support,” said Dr. Steve Salerno, Superintendent, Mount Horeb Area School District.

Project SERV funds short-term education-related services for local education agencies and institutions of higher education to help them recover from a violent or traumatic event in which the learning environment has been disrupted. The Mount Horeb Area School District will use the funding for financial assistance to pay for a school social worker at Mount Horeb Middle School as well as trauma-informed education literature, training, and conferences for all staff to aid in recovery.