ST. LOUIS–Nine St. Louis area school districts and charter schools are among the first to win financial awards a new state school security grant program
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and the state department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Monday announced 169 districts and charter schools to receive the first round of funding.
Northwest R-1 School district was one of three Jefferson County districts awarded, and it will receive the largest amount in the region at $450,000.
Funds have the following restrictions:
Access control: doors, locking devices, intercom/buzzer systems, secure vestibules
Video surveillance for school buildings and buses
Visitor management systems
Building security systems
Emergency communication tools, safety planning, vulnerability assessments,and staff training
Bleeding control kits
Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)
Fencing to secure playgrounds
Bollards to protect front entryways
Safety film for glass in exterior doors and sidelights
State lawmakers are halfway to passage of a bill that would require safety film on windows and exterior doors, which would be paid over time from a state fund. The bill passed the House and awaits action in the Senate with two weeks left in the legislative session.
A spokesman for Festus Schools, which will receive $350,000 in the grant, said the district will purchase the glass film and surveillance cameras.
Districts will receive the money by the end of May and have until April 29, 2024 to spend it.
A complete list of local districts and charter schools awarded in this round is below. A full list of awardees can be found here.
- Northwest R1-$450,000
- Festus R6- $350,000
- DeSoto (73)- $250,000
- Jennings- $250,000
- Riverview Gardens-$400,000
- City Garden Montessori- $79,410
- KIPP St. Louis- $250,000
- Kairos Academies- $59,338
- St. Clair R8- $250,000