Schools Waiting on $300K Grant to Start Security Upgrades

After a crazed gunman killed 20 children and six adults in a Newtown, Connecticut elementary school last December, school districts across the country began analyzing their own security measures and implementing new procedures.

During its 2013-14 budget planning, the Washington Township School board approved $320,000 to put toward security upgrades in the district.

Just two months after the budget was approved by the board, Governor Chris Christie’s administration announced it would be offering $455 million in grants ­– $425 million of which would go to regular operating districts in the state for construction projects.

Under the guidelines, a district can be awarded 40-percent of its construction project costs for an approved grant.

Washington Township Schools Superintendent Jeff Mohre said an approximate preliminary cost for the district’s security plan, including security equipment, technology infrastructure and installation, is in the neighborhood of $730,000.

That cost does not include architectural work for the implementation of welcome areas, or vestibules, where visitors will be signed in before entering the actual school building, Mohre said.

A 40-percent grant of that initial project cost could net the district nearly $300,000 to aid its security enhancement project.

Grant applications are due to the state in September, and “[The state] has told us it expects to turn around the awards quickly, as soon as the fall,” Mohre said.

For the time being, the $320,000 budgeted will be held.

“If we receive a grant worth 40-percent of the funds we would need to complete the project, it would allow us to finish all [enhancements] in a single phase, rather than piece by piece,” Mohre said.

If and when the grant is awarded, the district would take action immediately and notify its vendors and put portions of the projects out to bid, Mohre said.

At its last meeting in July, the board approved the use of after-school door attendants for the full 2013-14 school year, Mohre said. The use of the paid attendants – made up of community members – began in January.

The attendants will hold their post during all after-school activities and require visitors to sign in and sign out.

“We wanted to maintain our schools as a community center,” Mohre said. “As we work on enhancing security measures, we felt this was one way to ensure safety at our schools.”

School begins on Monday, Sept. 9.