By Braden Dunlap, GOP Press Secretary—
STATEHOUSE– Several Delaware County schools recently received more than $474,000 through the state’s Secured Schools Safety Grant Program, according to area lawmakers.
State Rep. Elizabeth Rowray (R-Yorktown) 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.
“Ensuring students and staff are safe is a priority, and Indiana is making significant investments to help our schools as they improve security,” Rowray said. “As a parent and a legislator, school safety is always top of mind. I’ll continue to look for ways to support our students, families and school staff.”
Delaware County schools receiving grant funds include:
- Cowan Community School Corp., $35,843;
- Daleville Community Schools, $50,000;
- Delaware Community School Corp., $50,000;
- Indiana Academy for Science, Math and Humanities, $35,000;
- Liberty-Perry Community School Corp., $21,000;
- Burris Laboratory School, $12,582;
- Inspire Academy – A School of Inquiry, $50,000;
- Yorktown Community Schools, $70,082;
- Muncie Community Schools, $100,000; and
- Wes-Del Community Schools, $50,000.
State Rep. J.D. Prescott (R-Union City) 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.
“Each school in Indiana is unique and develops safety plans based on their situation,” Prescott said. “With these grants, our schools have the flexibility to use the funding toward a number of important safety measures, and are able to take steps to keep their students and staff safe.”
In total, the state invested about $133 million in matching grants through the Secured School Fund, established through a 2013 law.
“Keeping our students safe has and will continue to be a priority for me,” said State Rep. Ann Vermilion (R-Marion). “Making sure schools have necessary resources to protect our kids is something I will always support.”
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.
