NH public schools get $4.6 million to keep kids safe from gun violence

We see it all the time: Another school shooting, another random rampage. After the devastating Lewiston, Maine massacre, it’s hitting even closer to home for New Hampshire residents – especially for parents.

Some comfort has come our way with the news that 21 New Hampshire public schools will receive a nearly $5 million grant to shore up security meant to prevent school shootings. The money is the most recent funding available from federal and state grants to up the security in our state’s schools.

This movement to secure schools against gun violence is part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed by President Joe Biden last year to reduce the risk of gun violence in our educational institutions and communities.

The grant money will be used to aid schools in poorer districts to deter and defend schools against acts of violence . The funding may be used to improve ways staff can control people entering the building, alert systems to make it easy for staff to communicate with each other and first responders during emergencies, and surveillance technology like cameras to help monitor school campuses.

For the past five years, New Hampshire has distributed $53 million to increase school security with state and federal funds. The Department of Education is currently accepting a third round of applications from the $10 million Security Action for Education Grant Program, which provides up to $100,000 per accepted school. Those funds will be available next year to district and charter schools.