Indy Standard

Several Warrick County schools recently received a combined total of $235,000 through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program, according to area lawmakers.

State Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (R-Newburgh) 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.

"Our students and staff need to feel safe at school, and this grant opportunity gives local school districts the funding flexibility to develop a safety plan and implement it," Ledbetter said. "It's good to see the state step up in this way and schools utilize these dollars to maximize their efforts."

Warrick County schools receiving grants include Evansville Christian School ($100,000), Saint John the Baptist School ($35,000), and Warrick County School Corp. ($100,000).

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 better coordination with local government and law enforcement.

"I think it's great that we are investing in new technologies and better coordination between schools and law enforcement," said State Rep. Tim O'Brien (R-Evansville). "Different schools have different security needs, and these grants give them the flexibility they need to address their unique concerns."

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

To learn more about the Secured School Safety Grant Program and what Indiana is doing to keep schools safe, visit the state's school safety hub at in.gov/schoolsafety.