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

STATEHOUSE (Oct. 3, 2023) – Several Gibson County schools recently received more than $340,000 through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program, according to area lawmakers.

State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka) 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.

"Students and staff deserve to be a part of a learning environment where they feel safe and can keep the focus on learning," Hostettler said. "These grants provide funding for school resource officers, security systems and other improvements to meet the needs of individual schools."

Local schools receiving grants include:

• East Gibson School Corp., $32,500;
• Holy Cross School, $35,000;
• North Gibson School Corp., $98,676;
• Saint James School, $23,691;
• Saints Peter and Paul School, $33,470;
• South Gibson School Corp., $85,396; and
• St. Joseph School, $31,347.

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.

"Our students and staff need to feel safe at school, and this grant opportunity gives local school districts the funding flexibility to develop a safety plan and implement it," said State Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (R-Newburgh). "It's good to see the state step up in this way and schools utilize these dollars to maximize their efforts."

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. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka) represents House District 64,
which includes portions of Gibson, Knox and Vanderburgh counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.

State Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (R-Newburgh) represents House District 75,
which includes portions of Gibson, Pike and Warrick counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.