Tuscarawas Valley schools get safety grants in latest round of funding

Schools in Tuscarawas and Harrison counties are receiving more than $340,000 in state funding for physical safety and security upgrades as part of the latest round of Ohio's K-12 School Safety Grant Program.

Gov. Mike DeWine made the announcement Thursday while visiting Lakewood High School in Cuyahoga County, one of 945 schools that will receive a combined $68 million in grants as part of the fourth round of the program.

A fifth round of funding will be announced in coming weeks.

Claymont City Schools has been awarded $47,856 to make improvements to Claymont High School in Uhrichsville.

More:New Philadelphia, Claymont receive grants for safety upgrades

The money will be used for new building signage to aid police in identifying the locations of classrooms. The money will also pay to upgrade the intercom system in the high school and radio communications within the building, said Superintendent Brian Rentsch.

The other four buildings in the district received funding to make these upgrades in previous rounds.

"Whether we look at this next round and find other vulnerabilities and apply, we're not sure because we're blessed to receive the money that we have. We are putting it to good use," Rentsch said.

Newcomerstown Exempted Village Schools will be getting $135,059 to make upgrades at four buildings in the district.

The money will be used to secure the entrances at those schools through keyless entry, said Superintendent Jason Peoples. The district will also be purchasing shatterproof and protective film for windows in the buildings.

Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia received $100,000 for safety improvements.

In Harrison County, Conotton Valley Union Local Schools got $60,310 in the fourth round of grants.

The funding will be used for universal clocks, security radios, two metal detectors, magnetized door releases for fire safety and new classroom doors which are updated to high security standards, according to Superintendent John Zucal.

What is Ohio's school safety grant funding?

A total of $112 million was allocated for the fourth and fifth rounds of the grant program by the Ohio General Assembly as part of House Bill 45, which was signed by DeWine last month. The investment more than doubles the initial allotment of of $105 million for the program provided by Ohio's operating budget and the American Rescue Plan Act.

So far, a total of $173 million has been awarded to 2,374 Ohio K-12 schools to help pay for physical security expenses such as new security cameras, public address systems, automatic door locks, visitor badging systems and exterior lighting. Eligible schools could receive as much as $100,000 per building.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission is administering the program in partnership with the Ohio School Safety Center.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Schools in Tuscarawas Valley get state funding for safety improvements