Indy Standard

Dubois County schools have been awarded over $220,000 through Indiana's Secured School Safety Grant Program to fund campus security improvements. The program, which is supported by State Representatives Stephen Bartels and Shane Lindauer, provided a total of $27 million in matching grants to 494 schools statewide this year.

Rep. Bartels highlighted the legislative focus on school safety, noting that new laws have moved the Office of School Safety under the Department of Homeland Security to streamline and strengthen support for local schools. "This funding provides schools with the ability to make their campuses safer," Bartels said. "Upgraded security and more resource officers will help schools achieve the level of safety that communities want to see."

Grant recipients in Dubois County include Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools ($80,012), Holy Trinity Catholic School ($33,670), Northeast Dubois County School Corp. ($32,375), Southeast Dubois County School Corp. ($32,375), and Southwest Dubois County School Corp. ($41,625).

According to Rep. Lindauer, these funds may be used for needs such as resource officer support, updated equipment and technology, active event warning systems, threat assessments, and student-parent support services. "It's vital that schools be safe havens where students and teachers can dedicate their energy to learning," Lindauer said. "By investing in our schools' safety, we are securing a strong future for education in Indiana."

Since its start in 2013, Indiana has directed more than $214 million into school safety via state matching grants.

More information about the Secured School Safety Grant Program is available at the state's school safety hub: https://www.in.gov/schoolsafety/.