(WSLS 10) - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced Wednesday that the Commonwealth has awarded $6 million in School Security Equipment Grants to help ensure the safety of Virginia's schools.
The grants will apply to 519 schools and other educational facilities in 100 school divisions. The $6 million will go toward paying for video monitoring systems, metal detectors, classroom locks, electronic-access controls, visitor-identification systems and other security upgrades.
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"These grants represent a crucial investment in safeguarding Virginia's young people and the educators, administrators and support staff dedicated to preparing them for the future," Governor McAuliffe said, in a written statement. "A new Virginia economy requires new and innovative solutions, and these school security equipment grants fit the bill."
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 awards — developed by the Virginia Department of Education and the Department of Criminal Justice Services — give priority to schools that are most in need of modern security equipment but are least able to afford these much-needed upgrades.
This third round of awards brings the total number of schools and other educational facilities receiving state funding through the program to 1,348. 2015 School Security Equipment Grants include:
- Alleghany County — $13,084 for Alleghany High, Mountain View Elementary and Sharon Elementary
- Amherst County — $74,412 for Amherst County High, Amherst Elementary, Amherst Middle, Central Elementary, Elon Elementary, Madison Heights Elementary and Monelison Middle
- Bedford County – $56,000 for Staunton River Middle
- Botetourt County — $59,745 for Botetourt Technical Center, Breckinridge Elementary, Buchanan Elementary, Cloverdale Elementary,
- Buena Vista — $4,500 for Parry McCluer High
- Carroll County — $91,697 for Carroll County Education Center, Carroll County High, Carroll County Middle, Gladesboro Elementary, Gladeville Elementary, Hillsville Elementary, Laurel Elementary, Oakland Elementary and St. Paul School
- Covington — $38,516 for Covington High
- Danville — $95,082 for Adult and Career Education Center, Edwin A. Gibson Elementary, Forest Hills Elementary, G.L.H. Johnson Elementary, Galileo Magnet High, Grove Park Preschool, JM Langston Focus, O. Trent Bonner Middle, Park Avenue Elementary, Schoolfield Elementary and Woodberry Hills Elementary
- Giles County — $80,360 for Eastern Elementary/Middle, Giles County Technical Center, Giles High, Macy McClaugherty
- Grayson County — $47,376 for Fries School, Grayson County High Career and Technical Center, Grayson County High, Independence Elementary and Independence Middle
- Henry County — $64,800 for Bassett High, Campbell County Elementary, Collinsville Primary, Drewry Mason Elementary, Fieldale-Collinsville Middle, G.W. Carver Elementary, Laurel Park Middle, Magna Vista High, Mount Olivet Elementary, Rich Acres Elementary, Sanville Elementary and Stanleytown Elementary
- Lexington — $9,355 for Lylburn Downing Middle
- Lynchburg — $94,183 for Bedford Hills Elementary, Carl B. Hutcherson Building, Dearington Elementary/Innovation, E.C. Glass High, Fort Hill Community, Heritage Elementary, Linkhorne Elementary, Paul Munro Elementary, Perrymont Elementary, Robert S. Payne Elementary, Sandusky Elementary, Sheffield Elementary, T.C. Miller Elementary for Innovation and William M. Bass Elementary
- Montgomery County — $100,000 for Belview Elementary, Gilbert Linkous Elementary and Shawsville Middle
- Patrick County — $47,936 for Blue Ridge Elementary, Hardin Reynolds Elementary, Patrick County High, Patrick Springs Elementary, Stuart Elementary and Woolwine Elementary
- Pittsylvania County — $100,000 for Chatham High, Dan River High, Gretna High and Tunstall High
- Pulaski County — $97,600 for Dublin Middle, Pulaski County Senior High, Pulaski Middle and Riverlawn Elementary
- Roanoke — $87,998 for Addison Aerospace Magnet Middle, Breckinridge Middle, Forest Park Academy, James Madison Middle, Lincoln Terrace Elementary, Noel C. Taylor Academy at Oakland, Patrick Henry High, Stonewall Jackson Middle, William Fleming High and Woodrow Wilson Middle
- Roanoke County — $61,200 for William Byrd Middle
- Salem — $63,555 for Salem High
School divisions and regional educational programs were invited in June to apply for the 2015 grants. The largest grant a school division may receive under the program is $100,000. A local match of 25 percent is required of most divisions.