STATEWIDE — The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) announced that schools around the Commonwealth would receive $12 million in grants to help bolster security on campuses.
The funding comes from the School Security Equipment Grant, which was created by the 2013 Virginia General Assembly after the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
The grant will go to 583 schools in 93 school divisions based on schools that need updated security equipment, that have high numbers of offenses, and school divisions that are least able to afford upgrades.
Of the $12 million, Williamsburg-James City County Schools will receive $81,383. The funds will go towards equipment such as, video monitoring systems, voice and video internal communication systems, school bus interior cameras, mass notification systems, visitor-identification systems, access control systems, two-way radios and security vestibules.
“The health and safety of students and school staff is paramount,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane. “These grants are an important part of equipping schools with the systems necessary to mitigate security risks, detect threats and connect schools with first responders. The commonwealth continues to lead the nation in proactively addressing school safety as VDOE works in partnership with other state agencies and local school divisions to keep students, faculty and visitors safe in our schools.”
