Gov. Terry McAuliffe has awarded $6 million in School Security Equipment Grants to protect students and education professionals across the Commonwealth.
The grants will pay for video monitoring systems, metal detectors, electronic-access controls, visitor identification systems, direct communication links between schools and law enforcement agencies and other security upgrades in 434 schools and educational facilities.
For Patrick County, the grant program will mean $86,518 to be shared among seven public schools: Patrick County High School, Blue Ridge Elementary School, Hardin Reynolds Memorial School, Meadows of Dan Elementary School, Patrick Springs Primary School, Stuart Elementary School and Woolwine Elementary School.
“School safety is a fundamental element of offering every Virginia student a world-class education in an environment where they can learn, grown and thrive,” McAuliffe said. “These grants will give our administrators the resources they need to keep students and educators save so they can focus on preparing for success in the Virginia economy.”
The School Security Equipment Grants program was established by the 2013 General Assembly in the aftermath of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
The grant criteria prioritizes schools most in need of modern security equipment, schools with relatively high numbers of offenses, and schools in divisions least able to afford security upgrades.
