As reports of an active shooter at Lake Central High School rattled students, teachers and parents Wednesday, the state announced 30 Northwest Indiana school districts received 2022 state school safety grants ranging from $100,000 to $1,000.
Statewide, the Indiana Secured School Safety Board approved more than $19 million in state grants. It marked a third consecutive year the General Assembly targeted funds for school safety investments.
Although firearm training for teachers and staff is one of the accepted uses for the grant funding, most local school districts said they’ll spend the funding to pay local police – called school resource officers – who work in the schools.
The program issues matching grants for school resource officers and law enforcement officers in schools, active event warning systems, firearms training for teachers and staff, threat assessments and other safety technology and support services.
Schools then match those funds at a certain level, based on average daily membership of the school district, the total amount of the project or what the request covers.
“Hoosier students and staff should be able to go to school with the confidence and comfort of knowing they are safe and protected from harm. This program represents the state’s commitment to that mission,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement.
GlenEva Dunham, president of the Indiana State Teachers Union and the Gary Teachers Union, said she didn’t know any districts offering gun training for teachers.
“We don’t support firearm training in schools,” she said. “We have enough going on. We don’t need to be dealing with teachers having guns.”
The program issues matching grants for school resource officers and law enforcement officers in schools, active event warning systems, firearms training for teachers and staff, threat assessments and other safety technology and support services.
Schools then match those funds at a certain level, based on average daily membership of the school district, the total amount of the project or what the request covers.
“Hoosier students and staff should be able to go to school with the confidence and comfort of knowing they are safe and protected from harm. This program represents the state’s commitment to that mission,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement.
Interim River Forest Superintendent Kevin Trezak
River Forest employs school resource officers and six trained school safety specialists.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Indiana school safety grants
Lake County
21st Century Charter School: $70,000
Andrean High School: $87,100
Bishop Noll Institute: $20,058
Charter School of the Dunes: $50,000
Crown Point Community School Corp.: $99,223
East Chicago Lighthouse Charter: $50,000
Gary Community School Corp. $1,500
Gary Lighthouse Charter: $100,000
Griffith Public Schools: $49,827
Hanover Community: $33,703
Highland Christian School: $35,000
Lake Central School Corp.: $100,000
Lake Ridge New Tech: $89,557
Lake Station Community Schools: $50,000
River Forest Community School Corp. $52,082
St. Mary Catholic School: $1,000
School City of Hammond: $80,318
School City of Hobart: $100,000
School City of Whiting: $16,800
School Town of Highland: $40,772
School Town of Munster: $25,000
Steel City Academy: $50,000
Tri-Creek School Corp. $59,370
Porter County
Boone Township: $49,652
Duneland School Corp.: $100,000
East Porter School Corp.: $54,600
Nativity of Our Savior: $48,934
Neighbors New Vistas High School: $23,100
Portage Township Schools: $100,000
Porter Township School Corp. $79,000
Union Township School Corp.: $44,000
Valparaiso Community Schools: $50,000
Source: Indiana Secured School Safety Board
