Indy Standard

Wells County schools have received over $148,000 in funding for safety improvements through Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant Program. State Representatives Matt Lehman (R-Berne) and Lorissa Sweet (R-Wabash) supported the initiative.

The funding is part of a statewide effort in which the legislature allocated $27 million in matching grants to 494 schools this year. Recent legislation has also moved the Office of School Safety to the Department of Homeland Security, aiming to centralize safety efforts and provide additional resources for schools.

“These matching grants highlight the strong partnership between the state and local communities to keep Hoosier students safe,” said Lehman. “Indiana’s commitment to school safety is clear, and it’s encouraging to see many schools using this funding to make security improvements.”

Bluffton-Harrison MSD received $31,545, Norwell Community Schools was awarded $70,869, and Southern Wells Community Schools obtained $46,250 from the grant program.

“Local schools can use this grant funding in a variety of ways to protect students and staff,” Sweet said. “School safety will always be a top priority for lawmakers.”

Since its inception in 2013, Indiana has provided more than $214 million for school safety through these grants.

More information about the Secured School Safety Grant Program can be found at https://www.in.gov/schoolsafety.