Attorney General Brad Schimel announced a list of 20 schools that have been awarded the next round of grants through the Wisconsin Department of Justice School Safety Grant program, administered by DOJ's Office of School Safety.
Combined, the 20 schools will receive $1,382,045, which will be spent on building safety improvements, as well as training for faculty and staff.
More grants will be awarded soon, according to Schimel.
The following schools will receive grants:
· Barneveld School District, $38,949;
· Benton School District, $57,975;
· Big Foot Unified High School District, $13,975;
· Bristol #1 School District, $22,925;
· Crivitz School District, $20,000;
· Kettle Moraine School District, $190,395;
· Kewaskum School District, $106,347;
· La Farge School District, $53,352;
· Luck School District, $39,516;
· Mauston School District, $188,275;
· Prentice School District, $81,272;
· Randall J1 School District, $21,935;
· River Ridge School District, $55,000;
· Rock County Christian School, $39,951;
· St. Joseph School; $20,750;
· Stevens Point Area Public School District, $279,827;
· Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School, $18,334;
· Union Grove J1 School District, $19,872;
· Wautoma Area School District, $84,435;
· Williams Bay School District, $28,960.
"We launched the safety school initiative...striking the balance between local control and expert security standards," said Attorney General Brad Schimel.
The grants will be used to update locks, using shatter-proof films on entryways, and upgrading surveillance systems, telephones, and intercoms.
Attorney General Schimel says these changes would decrease buildings' vulnerability and keep students safer. Schools are required to form a partnership with local law enforcement, as well.
"The most important job we have is to keep kids safe...so this is allowing us to both notify, train our staff, and harden our entrances," Jeff Kasuboski, Superintendent of Wautoma Area School District says.
The grants, however, cannot be used for adding school security officers. In addition to securing the buildings, the grants will also offer mental health training for faculty and staff.
"We're going to require everyone working with kids in schools to be trained to understand adverse childhood experiences...that can help us prevent future problems," Attorney General Schimel adds.
The Attorney General's office says the full $100 million in grants will not likely be awarded, but they are still adding up applications.
Attorney General Schimel also says he is hopeful the schools awarded money will have safety plans in place by the start of next school year.
