Local schools receive state funding boost for safety upgrades

Indiana Statehouse

Putnam County schools received more than $368,000 through the state’s Secured School Safety Grant Program, according to an announcement by State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle).

Baird said the funding is part of the state legislature’s significant investments this year in school safety, which totaled $29.8 million in state matching grants across 474 schools in Indiana.

“This grant opportunity is great way for the state and locals to partner together to prioritize school safety,” Baird said. “We want our local schools to have the flexibility to address their needs and keep their classrooms safe, so that students and staff can keep their focus on academics.”

Local schools receiving grants are:

-- Area 30 Career Center, $23,570.

-- Cloverdale Community Schools, $50,000.

-- Greencastle Community School Corp., $98,020.

-- North Putnam Community Schools, $98,000.

-- South Putnam Community School Corp., $99,000.

Funds can be used for a range of safety needs such as support for resource officers and law enforcement officers in schools, equipment and technology, active-event warning systems, threat assessments and student and parent support services programs.

In 2023, the Indiana General Assembly expanded the list of possible uses for the grants to include help covering the costs of much-needed technology upgrades, and to have better coordination with local government and law enforcement.

Hoosier schools have received about $163 million in school safety matching grants since 2014.

To learn more about the Secured School Safety Grant Program and what Indiana is doing to keep schools safe, visit the state’s school safety hub at in.gov/schoolsafety.