Indiana Allocates More Than $19 Million To School Safety

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Secured School Safety Board has approved more than $19 million in state grants, marking a third consecutive year the General Assembly has allocated funds for school safety investments.

The awards will allow the board to fund projects proposed by 392 schools in their applications to the Secured School Safety Grant program.

The program issues matching grants for school resource officers and law enforcement officers in schools, active event warning systems, firearms training for teachers and staff, threat assessments and other safety technology and support services.

Schools then match those funds at a certain level, based on average daily membership of the school district, the total amount of the project or what the request covers.

“Hoosier students and staff should be able to go to school with the confidence and comfort of knowing they are safe and protected from harm. This program represents the state’s commitment to that mission,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement.

The allocation of funds for the fiscal year includes roughly $13.4 million for school resource officers, $4.9 million for safety equipment, $642,000 for student and parent support services programs, $43,000 for active event warning services, and $6,200 for training.

Schools were required to have a completed threat assessment and an active memorandum of understanding with a community mental health center to be eligible for the funding.