Feds Fund School Safety in Minnesota

U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced that the government has awarded a total of $1,370,418 in grant funding to support local school safety efforts in Minnesota. The funding will be used to support school safety training and education programs, create anonymous reporting systems, and support crisis intervention teams.

The grants are authorized by the STOP School Violence Act, which aims to improve school security by helping students and teachers reduce exposure to risks, prevent acts of violence, and quickly recognize and respond to violent attacks. When sending children to school, safety is paramount, said U.S. Attorney MacDonald. This is the first year funding has been awarded under the STOP School Violence Act of 2018, and I am grateful to see these dollars directly supporting our children’s ability to learn and thrive in a safe environment.

The funding will be distributed to several local entities, including:

– Special School District No. 1 (Minneapolis) – $219,740 and $181,928 for school safety training and anonymous reporting systems.

– Hennepin County – $500,000 for school safety training and education programs.

– The City of Duluth – $468,750 for school safety measures, including coordination with law enforcement and training for law enforcement to prevent student violence.

The grants will provide new technology for reporting systems and other threat deterrent measures; create school safety training and education programs for school administrators, staff, students, and first responders; and support crisis intervention teams. For additional information on these grants, visit the Office of Justice Programs website at www.ojp.gov or the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.

U.S. Attorney MacDonald emphasized that no funding awarded under the STOP School Violence Act may be used for the provision of a firearm to any person or training in the use of a firearm.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota, can be reached at (612) 664-5600 for additional information.

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