Children who attend Niagara County schools will soon find their classrooms safer, thanks to a federal grant.

The Department of Justice awarded the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office a $215,000 grant to prevent school violence.

It will help with technology upgrades and building upon the partnership between several school districts and local law enforcement.

Among the schools to benefit from the grant are Orleans/ Niagara BOCES, Barker, Newfane, Royalton-Hartland and Starpoint, as well as Niagara Charter School.

A School Violence Prevention Coordinator will work with each of these schools to update and implement school safety plans and the new technology, as well as act as a resource on the ground.

The grant covers a two-year period and requires a local match of $72,000 which has already been committed by the schools and Niagara County.