$29K Grant Given To CHUH Schools For Safety Training

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools received more than $29,000 in grant money from the Ohio Attorney General's office this week. The money is earmarked for safety and security training in school districts.

While the Attorney General's office sent out a notice to the media, school districts have not actually received details on how the money will be distributed. CHUH officials said that "if/when" the funds do come through, they would possibly be used to upgrade security equipment at some schools.

"Ohio's students are entitled to feel safe when the school bell rings, and this funding will impact children by boosting safety measures at more than 1,700 schools across the state," said Attorney General Mike DeWine. "Schools will have the flexibility to use these grants for things like training for school resource officers, safety and security materials, and programs to identify and help students who may be struggling with their mental health."

About $12 million in grants were divvied up and sent to public schools, chartered nonpublic schools, and schools operated by county boards of developmental disabilities, DeWine added. Each district or school got the larger amount of either $2,500 or $5.65 per student, to spend on school safety programs and training.

By comparison, neighboring Shaker Heights Schools should get $27,764 through the program.

Local law enforcement must work with participating schools to determine the best use of the grant funding. That's because the grants are funded through appropriations made by House Bill 318, a bipartisan legislation sponsored by state representatives Sarah LaTourette (R-Chesterland) and John Patterson (D-Jefferson).

HB 318 appointed the Ohio Attorney General's Office to oversee the development of a school safety training grant program, in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

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