May, Davisson: State awards $119K to increase safety in Lawrence County schools

Posted by: Charles Melton, Wade Coggeshall  | Tuesday, September 27, 2022

STATEHOUSE (Sept. 27, 2022) – Lawrence County schools recently received more than $119,000 through the state's Secured Schools Safety Grant Program, according to State Reps. Chris May (R-Bedford) and J. Michael Davisson (R-Salem).

May said the local funding is part of this year's record-breaking school safety investments totaling more than $22.9 million in matching state grants for 425 schools across Indiana.

"Maintaining a safe environment in our schools is essential," May said. "These grants provide much-needed funding to help our local schools meet their security needs."

Mitchell Community Schools received $19,500 and North Lawrence Community Schools received $100,000.

Davisson said funds can be used for resource officers and law enforcement officers in schools, equipment and technology, active event warning systems, firearms training for teachers and staff who choose to allow guns on school property, threat assessments, and to implement a student and parent support services program.

"As a parent of young children, I'm very sensitive to the issue of school safety and want to makes sure schools have the resources needed to provide a safe environment," Davisson said. "It's great to see them utilize this opportunity to receive state dollars and boost their efforts to protect students and staff."

In total, the state invested about $133 million in matching grants through the Secured School Fund, established through a law passed in 2013. To learn more about Secured Schools Safety Grants and to sign up to receive updates about grants available through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, visit in.gov/dhs.

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State Rep. J. Michael Davisson (R-Salem) represents House District 73, which includes
Washington County, and portions of Jackson, Lawrence, Orange, Clark and Harrison counties.
Click 
here to download a high-resolution photo.

State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford) represents House District 65, which includes all of
Brown County, most of Lawrence County and parts of Monroe, Jackson and Johnson counties.
Click 
here to download a high-resolution photo.