STATEHOUSE (Oct. 16, 2023) – Many local schools received more than $496,000 through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program, according to State Rep. J.D. Prescott (R-Union City).
Prescott 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.
"Each school's safety plans are different, so administrators need flexibility when making decisions that can affect the security of staff and students," Prescott said. "Whether they need an alert system or support for a school resource officer, these funds can help implement the plan that best suits their needs."
Local schools 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. J.D. Prescott (R-Union City) represents House District 33,
which includes all of Blackford and Randolph counties, and portions of Delaware, Henry and Jay counties.
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