Indy Standard

Washington County schools have received over $132,000 for safety upgrades through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program, with support from local legislators. The funding is part of Indiana's biennial budget passed in 2023, which allocated significant resources for school safety. In total, 499 schools across Indiana's 92 counties were awarded $24 million in state matching grants.

State Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown) emphasized the importance of these grants: "I'm proud that we're able to direct these grants to our school districts to help keep children and staff safe," she said. "School systems will be able to make physical safety upgrades around their buildings and support their school resource officers."

The specific allocations include:

- East Washington School Corp.: $48,600

- Salem Community Schools: $43,383

- West Washington School Corp.: $40,500

State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) highlighted the flexibility of the funds: "These grants are a great tool because schools can focus on identifying and addressing their unique security needs," he said. "Whether it's hiring a new resource officer or implementing more safety features, I look forward to seeing our local schools, teachers and students benefit."

Since its inception in 2013, Indiana has allocated $187 million for school safety matching grants. State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford) reiterated the state's commitment: "School safety is a top priority and Indiana continues to step up to help schools address their security needs," he stated. "It's great to see local schools receive grants and make the security upgrades that are right for them."

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