Public and private K-12 schools in Wisconsin have until June 8 to apply for grants from a $100 million fund for school safety improvements.
The Capital Times reports that the funds, approved by legislators in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting, are to be used for facility upgrades or staff training.
"We owe our children and our communities the promise of safe school environments," says Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel.
To be eligible for funding, schools must develop a plan with local law enforcement and give all full-time teachers, aides, counselors and administrators at least three hours of training in adverse childhood experiences and trauma-informed care/trauma-sensitive schools.
State officials estimate that $30 million of the grant pool will go toward primary measures such as installing classroom door locks and shatterproof glass.
In addition to physical safety projects, Schimel says, schools also may use the funds for violence prevention and active-shooter training. The grants may not be used for weapons, vehicles or body armor, or to pay a salary.
if every public and private school in Wisconsin received equal-sized grants, each school would get about $32,000.
The school safety legislation, which passed with strong bipartisan support, created an Office of School Safety within the state Department of Justice. Its duties are to develop best practices for school safety plans, provide training and resources to schools and oversee the grant application process.
The legislation also requires schools to share blueprints of their buildings with local law enforcement.
