INDIANA – Schools in Lawrence and Orange counties have been awarded more than $344,000 in state funding for safety upgrades through the Indiana Secured School Safety Grant Program. This funding is supported by State Representatives Chris May and Stephen Bartels and is part of a $27 million statewide investment by the legislature this year to enhance school security.
Local Schools Benefit from Grant
Seven schools in the area received a portion of the grant money:
- Lawrence County Independent School: $32,374
- Mitchell Community Schools: $46,250
- North Lawrence Community Schools: $92,500
- Orleans Community Schools: $64,750
- Paoli Community School Corp.: $38,889
- Springs Valley Community School Corp.: $37,000
- Springville Community Academy: $32,375
Funding Targets a Range of Safety Needs
The grant money can be used for a variety of critical safety improvements, including:
- Hiring or training school resource officers
- Purchasing new equipment and technology
- Installing active event warning systems
- Conducting threat assessments
- Creating student-parent support service programs
“It is great to see many local schools take advantage of this grant program,” said State Rep. Chris May. “This money is meant to improve school security and safety across the board so we can continue making Indiana schools among the best in the nation.”
State Rep. Stephen Bartels added that the funding will help schools achieve the “level of safety that communities want to see” by supporting upgrades to security and the hiring of additional resource officers.
Since its inception in 2013, the Secured School Safety Grant Program has invested over $214 million in state matching grants for school safety initiatives throughout Indiana.
