MSP grant money to help with safety improvements

LANSING — The Michigan State Police (MSP) today announced that 56 public school districts, 15 private schools, 11 charter schools and five sheriff’s departments will receive $4 million in state grants to purchase equipment and/or technology to improve the safety and security of school buildings, students and staff. Over 217,500 students will benefit from these safety improvements.

“The safety of our students and educators is of paramount importance,” said MSP Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue. “This Competitive School Safety Grant Program will help schools to make improvements that will provide a safer and more secure learning environment.”

A complete list of award recipients is available at www.michigan.gov/cjgrants. Grant recipients have until Sept. 15, 2015, to spend their awards.

There were 289 applications received, totaling over $46 million in requests. Of the $4 million appropriated for the Competitive School Safety Grant Program, 80 percent was required to be awarded to K-12 schools and 20 percent to sheriff’s departments. No state agencies received funding under this program.

Grant applications were reviewed by a committee that included representatives from the MSP, Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Michigan Association of Nonpublic Schools and the Executive Office of the Governor. The review committee gave priority to proposals that sought to secure access points at school buildings, as this is one of the best and most cost effective ways to improve school safety and security.

(Information Courtesy of the Michigan State Police)