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McAuliffe awards $6 million in School Security Equipment Grants

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virginia-newGovernor Terry McAuliffe on Thursday awarded $6 million in School Security Equipment Grants to protect students and teachers in 100 school divisions and six regional educational programs.

The grants will pay for video monitoring systems, metal detectors, classroom locks, electronic-access controls, visitor-identification systems, direct communications links between schools and law enforcement agencies, and other security upgrades in 373 schools and other buildings.

The criteria for making the awards — developed by the Virginia Department of Education and the state Department of Criminal Justice Services — gave priority to schools most in need of modern security equipment, schools with relatively high numbers of offenses, and schools with equipment needs identified by a school security audit.

“Investing in security improvement that will protect our children while they are in school is critical towards building a new Virginia economy where students can learn and succeed,” said Governor McAuliffe. “These grants will result in safer environments for teaching and learning for thousands of students and educators.”

The divisions and regional educational programs awarded grants, as well as the 373 schools and other buildings that will receive needed security upgrades are as follows:

  • Accomack County — $100,000 for security improvements at Kegotank Elementary, Nandua Middle and Pungoteague Elementary
  • Alexandria — $41,668 for Charles Barrett Elementary, Cora Kelly Magnet Elementary, Jefferson-Houston Elementary, John Adams Elementary and William Ramsay Elementary
  • Alleghany County — $45,444 for Alleghany High and Clifton Middle
  • Amelia County — $100,000 for Amelia Elementary, Amelia High and Amelia Middle
  • Amherst County — $93,446 for Amelon Elementary, Amherst County High, Amherst Middle, Madison Heights and Monelison Middle
  • Appomattox County — $33,360 for Appomattox County High and Appomattox County Middle
  • Arlington County — $22,240 for Gunston Middle
  • Augusta County — $56,722 for Buffalo Gap High, Riverheads High and Stuarts Draft Middle
  • Bath County — $27,708 for Bath County High and Valley Elementary
  • Bedford County – $88,785 for Boonsboro Elementary, Huddleston Elementary, Moneta Elementary, Montvale Elementary, New London Academy and Otter River Elementary
  • Botetourt County — $27,471 for Central Academy Middle and James River High
  • Bridging Communities Regional CTE Center — $19,314
  • Brunswick County — $71,280 for Brunswick High, James S. Russell Middle, Meherrin Powellton Elementary and Totaro Elementary
  • Buchanan County — $12,450 for Council High
  • Buena Vista — $3,000 for Parry McCluer High
  • Campbell County — $40,922 for Altavista Elementary, Altavista High, Brookville High, Brookville Middle, Concord Elementary, Rustburg Elementary, Rustburg Middle and Rustburg High
  • Caroline County — $81,260 for Bowling Green Elementary and Caroline Middle
  • Carroll County — $99,623 for Carroll County Education Center, Carroll County High, Carroll County Middle, Fancy Gap Elementary, Gladesboro Elementary, Gladeville Elementary, Hillsville Elementary, Laurel Elementary, Oakland Elementary and St. Paul School
  • Charlottesville — $25,760 for Charlottesville Alternative
  • Chesapeake — $99,576 for Crestwood Middle, Deep Creek High, Deep Creek Middle and Western Branch Middle
  • Chesterfield County — $86,300 for Bailey Bridge Middle, Carver Middle School, Chesterfield Career and Technical Center, Chesterfield Community High, Chesterfield Tech Center, Elizabeth B. Davis Middle, Falling Creek Middle, James River High, Lloyd C. Bird High, Manchester High, Manchester Middle, Matoaca High, Meadowbrook High, Midlothian Middle, Monacan High, Providence Middle, Robious Middle, Salem Church Middle, Swift Creek Middle, Thomas Dale High and Tomahawk Creek Middle
  • Clarke County — $67,223 for Boyce Elementary, D. G. Cooley Elementary and Johnson Williams Middle
  • Colonial Heights — $73,375 for Colonial Heights High, Lakeview Elementary, North Elementary and Tussing Elementary
  • Craig County — $28,480 for Craig County High
  • Culpeper County — $100,000 for Culpeper Middle and Floyd T. Binns Middle
  • Cumberland County — $57,514 for Cumberland Elementary, Cumberland High and Cumberland Middle
  • Danville — $99,990 for George Washington High
  • Dickenson County — $64,353 for Ervinton Elementary and Sandlick Elementary
  • Dinwiddie County — $99,292 for Dinwiddie County High, Dinwiddie County Middle, Dinwiddie Elementary, Midway Elementary, Southside Elementary, Sunnyside Elementary and Sutherland Elementary
  • Enterprise Academy/Newport News — $1,467
  • Fauquier County — $5,888 for Cedar Lee Middle, Margaret M. Pierce Elementary and Marshall Middle
  • Floyd County — $94,414 for Floyd County High
  • Fluvanna County — $20,646 for Central Elementary
  • Franklin — $57,577 for Franklin High, J.P. King Jr. Middle and S.P. Morton Elementary
  • Franklin County – $65,338 for Benjamin Franklin Middle-West and Dudley Elementary
  • Frederick County — $4,562 for Frederick County Middle, James Wood Middle, Middle School Alternative Program and Robert E. Aylor Middle
  • Giles County — $79,222 for Eastern Combined Elementary, Giles High, Macy McClaugherty School, Narrows Elementary and Narrows High
  • Gloucester County — $98,714 for Abingdon Elementary, Botetourt Elementary, Gloucester High and Petsworth Elementary
  • Grayson County — $41,755 for Baywood Elementary, Fairview Elementary, Fries School, Grayson County High/Career and Technical Center, Grayson Highlands School, Independence Elementary and Independence Middle
  • Greene County — $36,915 for William Monroe High and William Monroe Middle
  • Greensville County — $67,920 for Belfield Elementary, E.W. Wyatt Middle, Greensville County High and Greensville Elementary
  • Halifax County — $16,390 for Governor’s Career and Technical Academy and Halifax County Middle
  • Hampton — $64,891 for Benjamin Syms Middle, Bethel High, C. Alton Lindsay Middle, Hampton High, Jefferson Davis Middle and Phoebus High
  • Hanover County — $53,218 for Beaverdam Elementary, Henry Clay Elementary, Liberty Middle and Patrick Henry High
  • Harrisonburg — $37,682 for Waterman Elementary, Keister Elementary, Skyline Middle/Smithland Elementary, Spotswood Elementary and Thomas Harrison Middle
  • Henrico County — $72,880 for Glen Lea Elementary, Highland Springs Elementary and Varina Elementary
  • Henry County — $53,900 for Bassett High, Drewry Mason Elementary, Fieldale-Collinsville Middle, Laurel Park Middle and Magna Vista High
  • Hopewell — $100,000 for Carter G. Woodson Middle, Dupont Elementary and Harry E. James Elementary
  • Isle of Wight County — $33,989 for Windsor Elementary
  • Jackson River Technical Center — $63,920
  • King William County — $26,593 for Acquinton Elementary and Hamilton Holmes Middle
  • Lancaster County — $80,000 for Lancaster High, Lancaster Middle and Lancaster Primary
  • Lee County — $41,564 for Elydale Elementary, Jonesville Middle, Lee High and Pennington Middle
  • Loudoun County — $33,989 for J. Lupton Simpson Middle, Seneca Ridge Middle and Sterling Middle
  • Lunenburg County — $26,400 for Central High and Victoria Elementary
  • Lynchburg — $99,911 for Linkhorne Middle and Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle
  • Manassas — $94,763 for George Carr Round Elementary, Grace E. Metz Middle, Mayfield Intermediate and Osbourn High
  • Martinsville — $57,661 for Albert Harris Elementary, Clearview Early Learning Center, Martinsville High and Martinsville Middle
  • Mathews County — $1,232 for Mathews High and Thomas Hunter Middle
  • Middlesex County — $94,414 for Middlesex High
  • Middle Peninsula Regional Alternative – $4,428
  • Montgomery County — $100,000 for Blacksburg Middle, Christiansburg High, Christiansburg Middle and Eastern Montgomery High
  • New Horizons Regional Technical Center — $94,414 for Woodside Lane Campus
  • New Kent County — $62,494 for George Watkins Elementary, New Kent Elementary, New Kent High and New Kent Middle
  • Newport News — $17,523 for Point Option Alternative, Booker T. Washington Middle, Crittenden Middle, Denbigh High, Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle, Heritage High, Homer L. Hines Middle, Huntington Middle, J.M. Dozier Middle, Mary Passage Middle, Menchville High and Woodside High
  • Norfolk — $90,300 for Bay View Elementary, Chesterfield Academy Elementary, Granby Elementary, Ingleside Elementary, Jacox Elementary, Larrymore Elementary, Lindenwood Elementary, Little Creek Elementary, Mary Calcott Elementary, Norview Elementary, Oceanair Elementary, P.B. Young Sr. Elementary, Poplar Halls Elementary, Sewells Point Elementary, Sherwood Forest Elementary, St. Helena Elementary, Suburban Park Elementary, Tarrallton Elementary and Tidewater Park Elementary
  • Norton — $78,568 for John I. Burton High
  • Page County — $100,000 for Luray High, Luray Middle, Page County High and Page County Middle
  • Patrick County — $20,470 for Blue Ridge Elementary, Meadows of Dan Elementary, Patrick County High and Patrick Springs Elementary
  • Petersburg — $79,957 for Peabody Middle, Petersburg High and Vernon Johns Jr. High
  • Pittsylvania County — $86,948 for Chatham High, Dan River High, Dan River Middle, Gretna High, Gretna Middle, Kentuck Elementary, Stony Mill Elementary and Tunstall High
  • Pittsylvania Regional Alternative Center — $1,120
  • Poquoson — $43,593 for Poquoson Elementary, Poquoson High, Poquoson Middle and Poquoson Primary
  • Portsmouth — $28,156 for Churchland Academy, Churchland High, Churchland Middle, Cradock Middle, I.C. Norcom High, Victory Elementary, William E. Waters Middle and Woodrow Wilson High
  • Powhatan County — $24,768 for Powhatan Elementary
  • Prince Edward County — $79,029 for Career and Technical School, Prince Edward County Elementary, Prince Edward County High and Prince Edward County Middle
  • Prince George County — $79,680 for N.B. Clements Jr. High and Prince George High
  • Prince William County — $24,057 for Belmont Elementary and Woodbridge High
  • Pulaski County — $58,436 for Dublin Middle, Pulaski Elementary and Pulaski Middle
  • Radford — $35,200 for McHarg Elementary and Radford High
  • Rappahannock County — $13,488 for Rappahannock County Elementary and Rappahannock County High
  • Richmond — $71,474 for Bellevue Elementary, Chimborazo Elementary, Elizabeth D. Redd Elementary, G.H. Reid Elementary, George Mason Elementary, George Washington Carver Elementary, Ginter Park Elementary, J.E.B. Stuart Elementary, James H. Blackwell Elementary, Mary Munford Elementary and Southampton Elementary
  • Richmond County — $63,108 for Rappahannock High
  • Roanoke — $67,072 for Fairview Elementary, James Madison Middle and Lincoln Terrace Elementary
  • Roanoke County — $94,414 for Northside High and Northside Middle
  • Rockbridge County — $62,939 for Central Elementary, Mountain View Elementary and Natural Bridge Elementary
  • Rockingham County — $38,948 for Montevideo Middle, Spotswood High, Turner Ashby High and Wilbur S. Pence Middle
  • Russell County — $79,970 for Honaker High, Lebanon Elementary, Lebanon High and Lebanon Middle
  • Scott County — $31,331 for Dungannon Intermediate, Gate City Middle, Rye Cove High and Twin Springs High
  • Shenandoah County — $54,589 for Ashby-Lee Elementary, Central High, Sandy Hook Elementary, Triplett Business and Technical and W. W. Robinson Elementary
  • Smyth County — $26,370 for Marion Senior High
  • Southampton County — $38,863 for Fresh Start Center, Meherrin Elementary and Nottoway Elementary
  • Spotsylvania County — $12,322 for Battlefield Middle, Post Oak Middle and Spotswood Elementary
  • Stafford County — $100,000 for Brooke Point High, Colonial Forge High, Mountain View High and Stafford Senior High
  • Staunton — $99,288 for Robert E. Lee High and Staunton City Preschool Programs
  • Suffolk — $72,090 for John Yeates Middle
  • Sussex County — $31,370 for Sussex Central High and Sussex Central Middle
  • Tazewell County — $99,365 for Tazewell County Career and Technical Center and Tazewell High
  • Virginia Beach — $62,483 for Holland Elementary, Independence Middle, Lynnhaven Middle, Parkway Elementary and White Oaks Elementary
  • Waynesboro — $47,207 for Westwood Hills Elementary
  • Westmoreland County — $8,800 for Montrose Middle and Washington and Lee High
  • West Point — $49,600 West Point Elementary and West Point Middle
  • Williamsburg-James City County — $6,542 for Berkeley Middle
  • Winchester — $83,805 for Daniel Morgan Middle, Douglas Community Learning Center and John Handley High
  • Wise County — $85,166 for Coeburn Middle, Coeburn Primary, J.W. Adams Combined, Powell Valley Primary and Wise Primary
  • York County — $95,884 for Bethel Manor Elementary, Dare Elementary, Grafton Bethel Elementary, Seaford Elementary and Yorktown Elementary

“Schools today must plan for a wide range of scenarios, including armed intruders, natural disasters and the accidents that inevitably occur in even the safest schools,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples said. “The enhancements and systems supported by this grant program will help our schools meet this challenge and will result in safer environments for students and staff.”

The School Security Equipment Grant program was established by the 2013 General Assembly in the aftermath of the December 14, 2012, mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

The 2013 legislature directed the Virginia Public School Authority to issue bonds to fund $6 million in competitive grants statewide in both the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years for the purchase and installation of school security equipment. The 2014 General Assembly subsequently authorized an additional $6 million grant competition in 2015-2016.

The first round of grants announced in September 2013 helped pay for new security systems and upgrades in 456 schools and other educational facilities.

School divisions and regional educational programs were invited in June to apply for the second round of grants. The largest grant a school division may receive under the program is $100,000 and a local match of 25 percent is required of most divisions.

To encourage the installation of equipment and systems during the summer months and to expedite the spend-down of the grant funds, school divisions and regional programs were allowed to apply for grants to reimburse eligible expenditures incurred on or after May 22, 2014.

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