Indy Standard

Wabash County schools have recently received over $226,000 for safety upgrades through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program, supported by State Representatives Lorissa Sweet (R-Wabash) and Craig Snow (R-Warsaw).

Sweet noted that this funding is part of the state's biennial budget passed in 2023, which made significant investments in school safety. In total, 499 schools across Indiana's 92 counties received $24 million in state matching grants.

"School security is much more than installing new security systems and it's great to see so many schools using the grants to support school resource officers," Sweet said. "These funds help each school address their unique needs and improve their ability to keep students and faculty safe."

The area schools receiving grants include:

- Heartland Career Center: $13,979

- MSD of Wabash County: $81,000

- Manchester Community Schools: $38,491

- Saint Bernard Elementary School: $40,500

- Wabash City Schools: $52,650

Snow emphasized that the funds can be used for a wide range of safety needs such as support for resource officers, equipment and technology, active-event warning systems, threat assessments, and student and parent support services programs.

"This grant program is such a great tool for schools as it gives them the needed flexibility and funding resources to make necessary upgrades," Snow said. "I look forward to seeing improvements in our local schools as we all work together to keep our Hoosier students and staff safe."

Indiana has allocated $187 million for school safety matching grants since the program started in 2013.

For more information about the Secured School Safety Grant Program and Indiana's efforts to keep schools safe, visit the state's school safety hub at in.gov/schoolsafety.