MADISON, Wis. – The Madison School Board determined on Dec. 17 that it will spend an additional $503,000 to increase safety at middle and high schools.

Superintendent Art Rainwater put in the recommendation, suggesting that the money be spent to hire more security staff; to build tighter relationships with students; and teach students how to cope with one another.

The decision to spend $217,500 on security equipment has been suspended until January. The security equipment would include radios and surveillance cameras. The money could also be used to relocate lockers at a middle school to decrease crowding in areas where fights are likely to break out.

The board unanimously voted to place an “engagement and behavior case manager” at four of the main high schools in the area. The vote also doubled the amount of security guards at each high school, bringing the number to four.

In a 5-2 vote, the board also approved the hiring of “positive behavior intervention system coordinators” for five middle schools.

The new positions designed for middle schools are meant to create programs that teach and reward positive behavior on campus. The positions for high schools will be geared towards helping students with academic, behavior, social, transitional and other problems.

The money for the recommendations will come from state revenues.

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