Community Corner
Southington to Receive State Funds as Part of School Security Grant Program
The district continues to work to address safety concerns at the schools and will receive over $3,000 in state aid as they make some critical changes, Gov. Dannel Malloy announced Wednesday.
In December 2012,just a few weeks after the tragic events that claimed the lives of 20 students and six staff members at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Southington school administrators and Board of Education members made a promise that safety would always be the number one priority.
Now the district is receiving a little help from the state as they move forward in providing necessary changes to schools in the community.
Gov. Dannel Malloy announced Thursday that Southington is one of 36 districts that have been awarded grant funding as part of a $5 million effort to provide enhanced security infrastructure improvements throughout the state.
“After the horrific events on Dec. 14, Connecticut cities and towns moved swiftly to improve security infrastructures at schools in need,” Malloy said. “We will never be able to prevent every random act, but we can take the steps necessary to make sure that our children and our teachers are as safe as possible. This funding allows districts with the most need to implement modern security measures that will make schools safer.”
The district will receive $3,459 to match $2,669 in local funds, according to a press release. The money must be used on infrastructure improvement such as the installation of surveillance cameras, bullet proof glass, electric locks, buzzer or card entry systems and panic alarms.
Southington school staff has already worked with parents, as well as police and town officials, to promote enhanced security measures including assuring that doors would be locked during school hours and at the middle schools, a security guard remains on constant watch as work is completed.
Erardi said earlier this year that the effort are part of an ongoing and continuous discussion with the community to improve safety day in and day out.
"The safety of our students and staff will always be the top priority," he said.
The state Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection received 111 applications before awarding grant funding. Grants were given to the following districts:
- Avon
- Bridgeport
- Cheshire
- Danbury
- Derby
- East Hartford
- Enfield
- Greenwich
- Hamden
- Hartford
- Killingly
- Ledyard
- Mansfield
- Meriden
- Middletown
- Montville
- Naugatuck
- New Britain
- New Hartford
- North Haven
- Norwalk
- Plymouth
- Portland
- Regional School District No. 6 (Warren, Morris and Goshen)
- Regional School District No. 14 (Woodbury and Bethlehem)
- Rocky Hill
- Shelton
- Southington
- Stamford
- Sterling
- Stratford
- Vernon
- West Haven
- Westport
- Wethersfield
- Winchester
“Public Safety is a core function of our government, especially when it comes to our children’s security,” DESPP Deputy Commissioner William Shea said. “These funds show the commitment and investment Governor Malloy has made to the safety of our children and educators and is another vital step in improving the security infrastructure of our schools.”
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