Cass County legislators: Local schools receive state funding boost for safety upgrades

Posted by: Abrahm Hurt  | Friday, September 13, 2024

STATEHOUSE (Sept. 13, 2024) – Cass County schools recently received more than $142,000 for safety upgrades through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program supported by State Reps. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) and Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo).

Manning said the funding is part of the state's biennial budget passed in 2023, which made significant investments in school safety. In all, 499 schools across Indiana's 92 counties received $24 million total in state matching grants.

"Ensuring students and staff are safe is a top priority, and Indiana continues to make significant investments to help our schools," Manning said. "All students, teachers and staff deserve to be part of a learning environment where they feel safe and can keep the focus on learning."

Area schools receiving grants include:

  • Lewis Cass Schools $26,325;
  • Logansport Community School Corp. $81,000; and
  • Pioneer Regional School Corp. $34,830.

VanNatter said funds can be used for a wide range of safety needs like support for resource officers, equipment and technology, active-event warning systems, threat assessments, and student and parent support services programs.

"Indiana is dedicated to helping schools continue to stay focused on security, and make sure our young Hoosiers and staff are safe," VanNatter said. "With these grants, school corporations large and small can make ongoing security updates based on their unique needs and plans."

Indiana has allocated $187 million for school safety matching grants since the program started in 2013.

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. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) represents House District 23,
which includes portions of Cass and Miami counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo. 

State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) represents House District 38,
which includes all of Carroll and Tipton counties, and
portions of Cass, Clinton, Howard and Tippecanoe counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.