STATEHOUSE (Oct. 3, 2023) – Several local schools recently received more than $186,000 through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program, according to State Rep. Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty).
Bartels said the funding is part of the state legislature's significant investments this year in school safety, which totaled $29.8 million in state matching grants across 474 schools in Indiana.
"As a former law enforcement officer, I understand the importance of having school resource officers and the role they play in boosting the safety of our students and staff," Bartels said. "These grants provide funding to support these officers in addition to a variety of measures like building and equipment updates."
Local schools in Spencer and Perry counties receiving grants include:
Funds can be used for a range of safety needs like support for resource officers and law enforcement officers in schools, equipment and technology, active-event warning systems, threat assessments, and student and parent support services programs. In 2023, the Indiana General Assembly expanded the list of possible uses for the grants to include help covering the costs of much-needed technology upgrades, and to have better coordination with local government and law enforcement.
Hoosier schools have received about $163 million in school safety matching grants since 2014. To learn more about the Secured School Safety Grant Program and what Indiana's doing to keep schools safe, visit the state's school safety hub at in.gov/schoolsafety.
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State Rep. Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty) represents House District 74, which includes
all of Crawford, Perry and Spencer counties, and portions of Dubois and Orange counties.
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