CCS receives $511,000 Safety Grant from Center for Safer School Awards

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PITTSBORO —  Chatham County Schools was among more than 200 school districts and charter schools across North Carolina to receive part of $74.1 million in school safety grants, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Center for Safer Schools.

CCS received over $511,000 through the grant program, which will be used for training to increase school safety, additional School Resource Officer (SRO) funding and security equipment.

“I am really pleased that this grant will enable us to further protect the security of our students and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson. “This will allow us to enhance measures we already have in place to provide safe learning environments.”

Funding for school resource officers and other security measures generally come through supports at the local level, and this grant provides an important supplement to what the school district has already established.

“From a technology perspective, this additional funding offers us the opportunity to strengthen our safety measures and to provide upgrades to our security equipment within Chatham County Schools,” said Chief Technology Officer Emma Braaten. “Our staff are the critical piece for ensuring our equipment is up-to-date, training and security practices are implemented, and schools are a safe place for our students and staff.”

Awards are subject to all administrative and financial requirements, including timely submission of all financial and programmatic reports; resolution of all interim audit findings; and adherence to allowable expenses. Upon successful completion of the mandatory reports, the SRO funding will be extended automatically to the 2023-24 school year.

Chatham County Schools, education, NCDPI, Center for Safer Schools, CCS Grant funding, school safety, SROs