STATEHOUSE (Sept. 17, 2026) – Jay County schools recently received more than $110,000 from Indiana's Secured School Safety Grant Program, according to State Reps. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) and J.D. Prescott (R-Union City).
Lehman said the program, which was established through legislation the General Assembly passed in 2013, provides matching grants to school corporations, accredited non-public schools and charter schools to help pay for critical safety improvements.
"A safe environment is essential to learning and for teachers to effectively do their jobs," Lehman said. "This funding has helped schools throughout the state pay for upgrades that prioritize the safety of our classrooms."
Prescott said this year the Indiana Department of Homeland Security provided more than $26 million in grants to nearly 500 schools and corporations.
"A school’s ability to respond to an emergency depends largely on how well it has prepared beforehand," Prescott said. "I’m pleased these local schools have access to state funding that supports additional security measures."
Area schools receiving grants include Jay County Christian Academy ($24,080) and Jay School Corp. ($86,000).
The matching grants can be used for a variety of safety measures, including hiring school resource officers, assessing site vulnerabilities, purchasing equipment and technology and implementing bullying prevention.
With this round of funding Indiana has invested more than $240 million in school safety since the program started.
In 2025, House Republicans passed legislation moving the Office of School Safety to IDHS, centralizing safety efforts and providing additional support and resources to schools. Visit in.gov/dhs/school-safety to learn more about state efforts to keep schools safe.
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State Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) represents House District 79,
which includes all of Adams County, and portions of Jay and Wells counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
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.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
