Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Tuesday that more than 1000 Ohio schools will receive state assistance to pay for security upgrades to enhance the safety of students and staff.
Local schools in East Canton and Sandy Valley school districts were among the 1,183 schools over 81 Ohio counties that will receive nearly $47 million in grant funding as part of his Ohio K-12 School Safety Grant Program.
Grants equal the amount requested by each school up to $50,000 and will be used to cover expenses associated with physical security enhancements such as security cameras, public address systems, automatic door locks, visitor badging systems, and exterior lighting.
Osnaburg Local School District received a total of $100,000 to be split evenly between East Canton’s High School and Elementary School.
Sandy Valley Local was awarded $74,982.80 for the district. Sandy Valley High School will get $50,000. The elementary school will receive $24,982.80.
“With the start of the new school year quickly approaching, we want students, staff, and parents to know that we care about school safety, and we’re working every day to make sure that rural, urban, and suburban schools alike have the safety and security resources they need,” said Governor DeWine. “Helping schools pay for important security improvements is just one component of our comprehensive school safety approach that also supports the mental wellbeing of our kids and the work of local law enforcement to prevent crime.”