GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The Wisconsin Department of Justice announces the Green Bay Area Public School District received a school safety grant for $835,092.
After several community engagement sessions and opportunities for feedback from students, staff, and parents, the District convened a School Security Committee.
The committee made up of representatives from education, law enforcement, and the community reviewed all identified concerns and narrowed the scope to determine what would be included in the grant application.
Ed Dorff serves on that committee. He says a couple of the items were at the top of the list.
“One of the needs that we see is the need for more radios and upgraded radios.”
He says they also have plans to increase the number of security cameras.
“You want to have your approaches and parking lots covered. Inside, you want to have your hallways and commons areas covered.”
The District also requested funds for a video storage server, visitor management software and supplies, interior and exterior public address system speakers and supplies, panic buttons for security desks and school offices, emergency management software, trainings (active shooter, trauma-informed care, trauma-sensitive schools and school site security analysis), and 3M Safety and Security window film for identified school doors and windows.
Dorff says the training may be the best use of money.
“Training is one of those areas where you really get a bang for your buck. Once you train someone in those areas, you can’t take that away, it is there.”
In a statement Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld said :
“The safety and well-being of students and staff continue to be our number one priority. We are thankful for this grant award as it provides us with additional funding needed to increase our efforts to enhance already existing safety and security measures. While there is still much more funding needed to address mental health needs, we are very appreciative that the state of Wisconsin has recognized this critical first step.”
Dorff says while the equipment is helpful, people still need to trust their gut and use common sense.
“My concern is that people start to trust these items and get complacent. They can give a false sense of security and I don’t want to see that happen.”
The District submitted the grant in early June.
