Local schools receive state funding boost for safety upgrades

Grants received from state's Secured School Safety Grant Program

STATEHOUSE (Oct. 16, 2023) – Thirty local schools recently received more than $2.2 million total through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program, according to area lawmakers.

State Rep. Lindsay Patterson (R-Brookville) 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.

"As a mother, the safety of our state's children is always on my mind," Patterson said. "These grants help to ease some of that worry for Hoosier parents by providing each school with funding to boost and implement their safety plans."   

Southeast Indiana schools receiving grants include:

• Batesville Community School Corp., $100,000;
• Borden-Henryville School Corp., $50,000;
• Clarksville Community School Corp., $100,000;
• Decatur County Community Schools, $100,000;
• Fayette County School Corp., $99,960;
• Franklin County Community School Corp., $100,000;
• Greater Clark County Schools, $100,000;
• Greensburg Community Schools, $87,592;

• Jennings County School Corp., $100,000;
• Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corp., $50,000;
• Lawrenceburg Community School Corp., $100,000;

• Madison Consolidated Schools, $100,000;
• Milan Community Schools, $25,000;
• Oldenburg Academy, $15,000;
• Our Lady of Providence High School, $50,000;
• Pope John XXIII Elementary School, $50,000;
• Rising Sun -Ohio County Community School Corp., $70,000;
• Sacred Heart School, $35,000;
• St. John Paul II Catholic School, $22,820;
• Saint Louis Catholic School, $40,000;
• Saint Michael School – Brookville, $21,982;
• Shawe Memorial High School, $47,470;
• Silver Creek School Corp., $100,000;
• Southeastern Career Center, $50,000;
• Southwestern -Jefferson County Consolidated Schools, $31,216;
• South Dearborn Community School Corp., $70,000;
• Sunman -Dearborn Community School Corp., $100,000;
• South Ripley Community School Corp., $88,610;
• Switzerland County School Corp., $100,000; and
• Union County-College Corner Joint School District, $64,750.

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.

"Whether it’s hiring a school resource officer, installing new security technology or creating emergency plans, Secured School Safety Grants can help cover many of these vital investments," said State Rep. Jennifer Meltzer (R-Shelbyville). “As a mom, I was proud to support the expansion of this program to greater empower school districts to continuously work toward further protecting our schools, our students and teachers."      

Hoosier schools have received about $163 million in school safety matching grants since 2014.

"These grants give schools many ways to address their security needs," said State Rep. Zach Payne (R-Charlestown). "We want every school to hone in on what their needs are and work to fill them."

"It's great to see that our local schools are taking a proactive approach to safety and utilizing these state dollars to build on their security resources," said State Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown). "Parents and families will have a greater peace of mind knowing that our schools have the tools available to keep students and staff safe."

"These grants provide schools needed funding to help keep children and staff safe," said State Rep. Alex Zimmerman (R-North Vernon). "These are great investments that help school districts of all sizes." 

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.