Governor Mike Parson is awarding grants to dozens of schools in the state of Missouri in the first round of funding through the School Safety Grant Program.
In a release Monday, Parson’s office announced 169 schools received funding for safety and security measures in their respective districts and charters.
Officials say the measures include physical improvements such as new door locks, metal detectors, etc. as well as defibrillators and other first-aid equipment.
“Improving the safety and security of our schools is an issue we can all support, and these grants help ensure our schools remain safe environments for Missouri children to learn. While threats of violence are something we never want to see in our classrooms, we must be prepared and have proper resources and response plans in place.”
Several local school districts received funding, including; Sparta, Walnut Grove, Thayer and Aurora, among others.