In Massachusetts, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced that 42 school districts have been awarded nearly $3 million in grant funds to facilitate physical security enhancements and help ensure the safety of students and educators.

The administration awarded $2,910,000 in federal grant funds through the Safer Schools and Communities Initiative. The federal funds are managed in Massachusetts by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), a state agency that is part of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

The funding will be used to make school safety infrastructure improvements, including security enhancements at building entrances, installation of new interior doors, and the addition or upgrading of central communication systems to support staff communication in cases of emergency.

Gov. Maura Healey said, “These grants will provide schools with the resources necessary to foster safe learning environments for students and educators.”

The 42 grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process. The grant program allowed districts to apply for funds to upgrade security infrastructure at up to three school buildings.

In addition to these new Safer Schools and Communities Initiative grants, OGR awarded more than $570,000 to 14 school districts earlier this year through the federal STOP School Violence grant program. Those funds allow school districts to develop and operate school threat assessment and crisis intervention teams.

“Our schools face unprecedented challenges in ensuring a safe learning environment. These grants are one of the tools we have available to promote safer schools that will allow our young people to thrive,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton.

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