Putnam school corporations to receive more than $237,000 in safety funding

Putnam County’s four school corporations are set to receive funding through the Secured Schools Safety Grant Program administered by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

A total of $237,068 will flow into Putnam County Schools to increase security in each.

Specifically, the four corporations will receive:

• Cloverdale Community Schools-$50,000

• Greencastle Community Schools-$47,068

• North Putnam Community Schools-$40,000

• South Putnam Community Schools-$100,000.

These funds may be used for a variety of security purposes, but the four corporations outlined for the Banner Graphic the plans for their grant funding.

At Cloverdale Schools, the $50,000 will be used to subsidize the cost of two school resource officers (SROs), Supt. Greg Linton noted.

Likewise, North Putnam Supt. Nicole Allee said the corporation will also use its $40,000 grant — which she noted actually translates to $80,000 — to help fund the SRO program.

“We look forward to a continued partnership with the Town of Bainbridge SRO,” Allee said. “The $40,000 we were awarded is actually $80,000 total since the state matches the corporation’s contribution. This is money that our corporation has allocated and received for quite some time.”

With Greencastle Schools, specifically the Greencastle High School campus, undergoing extensive construction, an entirely new security system will be installed.

GCSC Safety Director Yolanda Goodpaster noted that with the corporation match, the $94,137 in total funds will be used to install a new intercom, clock system and strobe lights for high-noise areas for the high school, McAnally gym and Parker Auditorium, replacing an outdated analog system.

Strobe lights for the intercom system will be in seven areas: two gyms, the weight room, shop, Fab Lab, cafeteria and auditorium. Additionally, 75 call buttons will be installed to replace current call buttons as well as installed in areas of new construction.

Additionally, a new master clock system will synchronize 80 analog clocks and 25 digital display clocks.

“Having a new intercom system throughout the high school, McAnally gym and Parker Auditorium will get information quickly to all parties,” Goodpaster said. “Medical emergencies, safety drills, daily communication and important beginning- or end-of-the-day announcements will not be lost and give all individuals information needed especially for safety.”

South Putnam Supt. Corey Smith noted that the funding will be used to enhance safety at school entrances.

“Staff and student safety is a high priority at South Putnam,” Smith said. “We plan to use the Secured Schools Safety Grant Program funds to enhance our ingress/egress safety and security throughout the district.”

Plans include installing of a three-tiered entry protocol at all main entrances, installing a safe-visitor kiosk system at each school, increasing exterior door and window security measures and alarms, deploying additional cameras and lighting and implementing an updated security warning system throughout the district.

In total, the state plans to invest $22.9 million across 425 school districts throughout Indiana. Uses for the grant funding may include resource officers and law enforcement officers, equipment and technology, active event warning systems, firearms training for teachers and staff who choose to allow guns on school property, threat assessments and to implement a student and parent support services program.