Vanderburgh County schools are set to boost their security systems and resource officer support thanks to a generous contribution from the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program. As reported by Indiana House Republicans, more than $694,000 has been allocated to local institutions in an effort to create safer learning environments.
Specifically, schools such as Annunciation Catholic School at Christ the King, Corpus Christi School, and Evansville Day School are among the beneficiaries of the grant. State Rep. Tim O'Brien, chair of the House Ways and Means K-12 Subcommittee, emphasized the importance of security, stating, "A quality education starts with providing a safe learning environment for our kids." O'Brien praised the grants for allowing schools to better protect students and teachers alike.
Funding distribution ranges from $10,406 for Evansville Lutheran School to a substantial $92,500 for Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. and Mater Dei High School. State Rep. Wendy McNamara noted that the awarded funds can be employed to address a wide range of safety needs, such as technology upgrades, active event warning systems, and support for student-parent service programs.
With a clear focus on the future, "This funding will go directly toward helping Southwest Indiana schools to better support security and provide safe educational environments for our students, educators and staff," McNamara told Indiana House Republicans. "By investing in school safety, future generations can learn and grow to their fullest potential."
Since its inception in 2013, the state of Indiana has poured more than $214 million into school safety initiatives. State Rep. Matt Hostettler highlighted the link between safety and educational outcomes, saying, "Teachers and students should feel protected at school, which leads to better education outcomes."
