Ohio schools to receive nearly $47 million in federal and state funds for safety upgrades

Megan Henry, The Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read
Worthington police officer Sean Ord greets Noah Tennant, then a senior at Thomas Worthington High School, in this file photo from Aug. 16, 2018. Worthington City Schools' school resource officer (SRO) program was discontinued after two years by the school board in 2020. Last year, a student started a petition drive to bring back the SROs, but the state and federal money Ohio is allocating for safety and security at schools is one-time money and thus not for permanent employment of SROs.

Ohio is investing nearly $47 million in state and federal money for safety and security upgrades in schools across Ohio.

The funds will be used to pay for physical security enhancements such as security cameras, public address systems, automatic door locks, visitor badging systems, and exterior lighting.

Franklin County schools will receive a total $2.39 million — including $1.93 million for 11 public school districts and $462,363 for 17 charter, community and nonprofit schools.

Columbus City Schools, the largest school district in Ohio, is to receive $942,789.

In addition, there is another $50 million available that schools will soon be able to apply for, Gov. Mike DeWine said last week.

“There's nothing more important than our kids," DeWine said. "There is nothing more important than keeping our kids safe."

Columbus City Schools getting safety upgrade money

Eighteen schools among Columbus City Schools' total 109 schools will receive a share of the money.

A total of $50,000 each is allocated for six Columbus high schools (Beechcroft, Briggs, Centennial, Columbus Alternative, Eastmoor, Marion-Franklin and Walnut Ridge), six middle schools (Buckeye, Columbus Prep for Boys, Johnson Park, Westmoor, Woodward Park and Yorktown) and five elementary schools (Highland, Indian Springs, Moler and West Broad).

In addition, Cranbrook Elementary School is receiving $42,780.

Here's what other public schools in Franklin County are getting

Worthington Schools is receiving $250,000. Their school resource officer (SRO) program was discontinued after two years by the school board in July 2020 following racial justice protests to end its contracts with the Columbus Division of Police and Worthington Police Department.

Last summer, a student started a petition drive to bring back the SROs, but the state and federal money Ohio is allocating for safety and security at schools is one-time money and thus not for permanent employment of SROs.

Other Franklin County school districts and the amounts that they are expected to receive:

  • Canal Winchester —  $29,011

  • Dublin City — $661,493

  • Gahanna-Jefferson City  — $50,000

  • Groveport Madison — $500,000

  • Hamilton — $230,073

  • New Albany-Plain — $50,000

  • South-Western — $102,8023

  • Westerville — $28,510

  • Whitehall — $139,344

Allocations to charter, community and nonprofit schools in Franklin County:

  • Capital High School — $9,142

  • Cesar Chavez College Prep —  $50,000

  • Columbus Collegiate Academy — $100,000

  • Columbus Preparatory Academy — $50,000

  • Educational Academy for Boys & Girls — $50,000

  • ESC of Central Ohio Educational Service Center — $50,000

  • Focus Learning/Se Columbus —  $50,000

  • Focus Learning/Sw Columbus — $50,000

  • Focus North High School —  $50,000

  • Horizon Science Academy Columbus — $50,000

  • Midnimo Cross Cultural CS — $50,000

  • Oakmont Education — $26,441

  • Sullivant Avenue Community School — $22,482

  • The Arch Academy — $19,633

  • United Preparatory Academy — $16,289

  • United Schools Network Inc — $50,000

  • Youthbuild Columbus Community — $5,551

Ohio Statehouse Bureau reporter Anna Staver contributed to this report. 

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio schools receive nearly $47 million for safety upgrades