District 33C Receives Grant For Safety And Security

HOMER GLEN, IL — The Will County Sheriff's Office has announced a $500,000 grant for measures to increase safety and security at all of Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C. The sheriff's office said Homer 33C district staff approached the sheriff’s office in early 2017 about an opportunity to receive grant funds through the US Department of Justice, 2018 COPS STOP School Violence Prevention Program.

The sheriff's office said the requirement of the grant was for the school district to approach their law enforcement agency and request collaboration for writing and submitting the grant on their behalf. Homer School contacted Sheriff Mike Kelley who accepted the undertaking.

“Over the past few years, the sheriff’s office has increased their commitment to preventing school violence," Kelley said in a release. "School Resource Officers have been in our schools for several years, but with the increase in school violence nationwide, we have made it one of our priorities. We now utilize our Training Division deputies to hold Active Shooter/Rescue Task Force training and other specific training for school personnel. The $500,000 grant funds fall directly in line with our goals and amplify assurance to school personnel, students, parents and visitors."

Last year, specific needs were identified in the seven Homer 33C facilities through an intergovernmental security assessment with the Sheriff’s Office, Lockport Police Department, area fire departments and Homer 33C personnel. According to the sheriff's office, Homer 33C retained Tria Architecture who completed a district-wide security assessment.

The following measures were identified as being crucial to the safety and security of the Homer 33C schools and will now be added or upgraded: secure vestibules, signage access control and card reader devices, intercoms and public announcement systems, security panels and access control modules, and revised main office designs. The total project budget for these improvements was estimated at $1,380,913. Homer 33C has agreed to fund the remaining amount of $880,913.

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