ST. LOUIS — In response to the 2022 Central Visual and Perform Arts (CVPA) High School shooting that left one student and one teacher dead, and injured others, millions of dollars have gone toward safety and security upgrades.  

In December 2023, $1 million was approved for building improvements at CVPA, according to Matt Davis, vice president of the Board of Education of the City of St. Louis.

Approximately $750,000 of those funds were slated for new doors, safety equipment, and architectural assessments that are underway.

“As we continue to learn more things and take on more responsibilities to make our schools safe, we also try to do that within the finances that are provided to us as well,” Davis said.

He added that $35 million have gone toward improvements for the entire campus that includes Collegiate School of Medicine and Biosciences (CSMB) with nearly half being spent on new vestibule entries, safe rooms, additional safety equipment and more.

Prop S dollars continue to be invested in safety measures for all schools in the district. State and federal safety grants have gone toward intrusion protection films on the lower levels of buildings, Davis said.

More than a dozen training modules have been added over the past year for security officers. The trainings range from threat assessments to first aid and more. Davis said food service workers have trained in emergency operation procedures as well.  

There have also been discussions if school-based security officers should remain unarmed. Davis said the FBI recommended procedures stay the same with unarmed security guards onsite and mobile units who are armed.

“It was recommended that on a day-to-day basis, that we strike a balance that is necessary to make sure the school environment is the most productive for learning and safety,” Davis explained.

The school district also has been meeting with national safety experts led by Dr. John Nicoletti to review the additional information that has come out, Davis said.

In the weeks prior to the deadly shooting, SLMPD officials had been meeting with officials from SLPS, parochial schools and charter schools on safety measures, according to Lt. Col. Michael Sack.

“Because the Public School District had taken into account a number of those discussions and recommendations that were made, I think that helped,” he said. “We continue to want to be a part of that.”

SLMPD Chief Robert Tracy said the department will continue to review best practices, and what went well and what can be improved on.