Vermont Governor Phil Scott announced an additional $1.5 million in funding will go towards the enhancement of school safety and security.
The Department of Public Safety is accepting applications from schools for grants, according to Vermont Biz. This is the second round of funding from the School Safety and Security Grant (SSSG) Program, which was signed by Scott.
With this money, Vermont schools and supervisory unions can improve existing security systems and school infrastructure, as well as security systems and technology.
Vermont schools can apply for grants of up to $25,000 to equip schools with interior and exterior door locks, public address systems or improve other areas of security. Each school will be responsible for a 25% grant match.
“These grants are the latest step in our ongoing commitment to ensuring safe learning environments in all Vermont schools,” Governor Scott said. “While Vermont remains among the safest states in the country – and our schools are no exception – we must continue to build upon this effort through a comprehensive approach, including enhancing safety infrastructure, training staff to recognize and address threats and concerning behavior, promoting the importance of ‘see something, say something,’ and engaging the whole community to keep our schools safe.”
Last year, Scott made $4 million available for school safety, which allowed 241 Vermont schools to receive funding. Each school averaged about $16,000 to fund 567 school safety enhancements.
The Department of Public Safety also partnered with Margolis-Healy, a professional services firm that specializes in campus safety, security, and regulatory compliance for higher education and K-12. Through this partnership, training and exercise guidance was made available to schools and a standardized Emergency Operation Plan was developed with public safety personnel.
The Scott Administration and The Union of Vermont Educators (Vermont-NEA) also launched a student-led “See Something, Say Something” public service announcement campaign earlier this year.
To apply for a grant, schools and school districts can visit here. The deadline for applications is August 5.
