Last Updated on July 9, 2018 by cassnetwork
The Indiana Secured School Safety Board recently approved more than $14 million in matching grants to enhance school security by allowing local school corporations to add resource officers, equipment and conduct threat assessments.
During the board meeting, applications were approved for 388 schools that qualified for the Secured School Safety Grant program. Each school must produce a 50 percent match to qualify.
“Indiana continues to be national leader in the safety and preparedness of our schools,” said Bryan Langley, board chair and executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS). “With support from Governor Holcomb and legislators, this funding will help continue that trend to support schools as they plan and implement safety measures that protect students, educators, administrators and visitors.”
The funds include an additional $5 million approved by the Indiana General Assembly at the governor’s request. With the recent board approval, the Indiana Secured School Safety Grant program has provided more than $53 million since 2014 to enhance safety and security in schools.
Award letters were sent this month to school administrators. By statute, the Indiana Secured Schools Safety Board is administered by IDHS. Visit the IDHS website for a complete awards list. Local recipients include Logansport Schools ($50,000), Pioneer Schools ($35,000), Caston Schools ($35,000) and Lewis Cass Schools ($26,000).
The Indiana secured school safety grant program was created in 2013 to support initiatives to ensure schools are safe and secure.
The program supports a dedicated state grant fund that provides matching grants to school corporations, accredited non-public schools, charter schools or a coalition of school corporations and/or charter schools applying jointly to employ a school resource officer, conduct a threat assessment, purchase equipment to restrict access to the school or expedite the notification of first responders.
School corporations, charter schools or coalitions with an average daily membership of at least 1,000 can apply for grants up to $50,000 annually. Schools with membership of less than 1,000 can apply for grants up to $35,000 per year.
SOURCE: News release from Indiana Department of Homeland Security