Schools

Mansfield Receives State Funds for School Security

The state grant will reimburse the town for nearly $134,000 already allocated to strengthen school security.

The state has given Mansfield $133,828 in grant money to support school security projects, according to a press release from the office of Gov. Dannel Malloy.

Superintendent Frederick Baruzzi explained that the funds will reimburse the local tax dollars already allocated to strengthening Mansfield's school security system. The town council pulled close to $183,000 from the capital budget earlier in the year for security upgrades, Baruzzi said.

The Board of Education-approved improvements include: 

  • Numbering all exterior doors for ease of identification by first responders
  • Replacing telephone systems at all four schools
  • The installation of additional door locks, as well as blinds and shades for lockdown use
  • Provide staff training
  • Increase the size of exterior camera monitors in the school office
  • Review current school and town support services to more readily identify  students and families in need
Baruzzi said that $48,970 of the town's original allocation is not covered by the grant. Many of the upgrades have already been completed, although a few items have 2014-2015 or 2015-2016 deadlines.

He added that the town will apply for further grants from the state if additional upgrades are needed at the schools.

According to the governor's press release, $5 million in funding was awarded to 36 school districts as part of the Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety Act.

More security grants will be awarded in the future, the release said.


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