Indy Standard

Cass County schools have received over $142,000 for safety upgrades through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program. The funding was supported by State Representatives Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) and Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo).

Manning highlighted that this funding is part of the state's biennial budget passed in 2023, which made substantial investments in school safety. A total of 499 schools across Indiana's 92 counties benefited from $24 million in state matching grants.

"Ensuring students and staff are safe is a top priority, and Indiana continues to make significant investments to help our schools," Manning said. "All students, teachers and staff deserve to be part of a learning environment where they feel safe and can keep the focus on learning."

The local schools receiving grants include:

- Lewis Cass Schools: $26,325

- Logansport Community School Corp.: $81,000

- Pioneer Regional School Corp.: $34,830

VanNatter noted that the funds could be used for various safety needs such as support for resource officers, equipment and technology, active-event warning systems, threat assessments, and student and parent support services programs.

"Indiana is dedicated to helping schools continue to stay focused on security and make sure our young Hoosiers and staff are safe," VanNatter said. "With these grants, school corporations large and small can make ongoing security updates based on their unique needs and plans."

Since its inception in 2013, Indiana has allocated $187 million for school safety matching grants.

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.