Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Thursday his office is awarding $10 million in school safety grants for the 2019-2020 school year.
All public schools, chartered nonpublic schools and schools operated by county boards of developmental disabilities are eligible to receive either $2,500 or $4.49 per student, whichever amount is greater, according to a news release. Applications are due by Dec. 13.
“Our kids learn and grow best in an environment free from fear and violence,” Yost said. “These grants will help bring that goal closer to reality.”
Grant funding comes from money legislators set aside for school safety under House Bill 166. The law gives school leaders flexibility in deciding how grant funds can be best used to benefit their school(s)’ safety and security needs, including but not limited to:
- School resource officer certification training
- Active shooter and school safety training or equipment
- Training to identify and assist students with mental health issues
Earlier this year, Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order to create the Ohio School Safety Center as a division of Ohio Homeland Security.
The new department is made up of seven state employees, including intelligence analysts who scan social media and websites for threats toward schools or potential self-harm behavior.
Employees are also responsible for reviewing school safety plans, monitoring a tip line, training schools’ threat assessment teams and sharing school safety best practices and training opportunities through its website and an annual summit.
The center is part of DeWine’s 17-point plan to reduce gun violence and increase mental health treatment following the August mass shooting in Dayton, where nine people were killed and many others were injured.
The gunman had been suspended from Bellbrook High School his junior year after a hit list was found in a bathroom. He had been suspended previously for making a list of students he wanted to sexually assault.
