COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today the allocation of more than $42 million in funding to support safety and security upgrades at hundreds of schools across the state. As part of the fifth round of Ohio’s K-12 School Safety Grant Program, 624 schools will benefit from these funds. To date, the program has provided assistance to 2,789 schools, totaling over $215 million in funding.
Governor DeWine emphasized the importance of student safety, stating that educators are committed to implementing effective security improvement plans using the allocated funds. With this latest announcement, every eligible school that applied for a grant has received at least one award, spanning all 88 counties in Ohio.
Initiated in 2021, the K-12 School Safety Grant Program was established in collaboration with the Ohio General Assembly. The program aims to help schools cover the costs of physical security expenses, such as new security cameras, public address systems, automatic door locks, visitor badging systems, and exterior lighting.
Administered by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission in partnership with the Ohio School Safety Center, funding for the program comes from Ohio’s operating budget and allocations from the American Rescue Plan Act.
In Ross County, three schools received significant funding allotments:
- Chillicothe City Schools: $184,376
- Unioto: $300,000
- Pickaway-Ross CTC: $100,000
This financial support will enable these schools to enhance safety and security measures, ensuring the well-being of students and staff.
