Lawmaker seeks security funds for private schools

State Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, and his son, Kevin, testify Monday in support of school security funding. / Contributed photo


HARTFORD - State Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, Monday testified along with his son in support of extending school security grants to nonpublic schools.
The pair spoke in support of House Bill No. 5564 An Act Concerning School Safety at an Education Committee public hearing held at the Legislative Office Building.

“Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook, the General Assembly took significant action to help protect our schools with the establishment of school security infrastructure grants,” Kelly said. “Our intention was and is to protect our children and make every school a safe place to live, learn and grow. However, by leaving private schools out of the equation, we are missing the mark and not fulfilling our intentions.”

The legislation under consideration this year would make the state’s school security infrastructure grants available to help private schools make a variety of safety improvements.
Currently, the grants are only available to public schools. If passed into law, this bill would require at least 10 percent of school security funds be awarded to nonpublic schools.

The school security grants were initially established to reimburse a percentage of the costs associated with school safety infrastructure improvements for public schools. They can be used to support infrastructure improvements including, but not limited to, the installation of surveillance cameras, penetration resistant vestibules, ballistic glass, solid core doors, double-door access, computer-controlled electronic locks, entry door buzzer systems, scan card systems, panic alarms, or other systems.

“Securing the funding to make these changes is challenging, for any school. If the state did not offer support, many schools would go without any safety improvements. I do not believe it is fair or responsible to limit this funding to only one group of schools. Parents should feel safe sending their child to school, and students should feel secure every day, in any school setting,” Kelly said.

In the 21st District, this legislation could help schools including St. Jude in Monroe, St. Joseph and St. Lawrence schools in Shelton, as well as St. James and St. Mark regional schools in Stratford.

Kelly’s son Kevin testified at the hearing alongside his father.

“I am here to testify on this bill because I believe every kid deserves a safe school,” said Kevin.

Kelly, alongside his son, urged the Education Committee to move Bill No. 5564 forward.

“It is our responsibility to do everything we can to make each and every school in our state safe,” Kelly said.

Kevin Kelly (www.senatorkevinkelly.com) represents the 21st District, which includes the towns of Monroe, Seymour, Shelton and Stratford. 
He can be reached at 800-842-1421, at Kevin.Kelly@cga.ct.gov.
Follow Kelly on Twitter @21KevinKelly and on Facebook at ww.facebook.com/senatorkevinkelly. 




This is a press release from Kelly's office.

Lawmakers hail funding to boost security at Derby schools

     State lawmakers representing the city of Derby all expressed gratitude for a school security grant announced today by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

    Three Derby schools will receive $267,873 from the state, to be matched by $107,139 from the city. 

     This is the first round of Competitive Grants for school security, part of the Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety Act passed in the legislature this year.  

      “I’m grateful for the state’s effort to keep our children safer,” said State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby. “Assuring our schools remain sanctuaries of learning is critical and this modernization will go a long way in maintaining that trust.”

        “Security upgrades are expensive additions to local budgets., I am very pleased the state is able to defray the costs through the school security grant program,” said state Rep. Theresa Conroy, D-Seymour, Beacon Falls, Derby.

     “The legislature set up this program to address the school safety issues that became everyone’s concern last year; this grant program matches schools that have identified needs with the resources we made available to help,” state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, D-Woodbridge, said. 
“The security infrastructure upgrades we envision are meant to prevent or avoid a crisis wherever possible, and this initiative fortifies our efforts to deter violence in that regard.”

     The three schools in Derby are:

·  Irving Elementary;

· Bradley Elementary;

· Derby High School.

    The funds may be used for costs associated with security infrastructure improvements made in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

     Improvements include security windows, bullet-proof glass, new school entrances and radios. 

   
   A school security assessment survey was conducted by each local school district that applied which resulted in funding during this first round of grants.  Additional grants are expected in the future.

     “We performed a full assessment of all schools so we’re ready to begin work quickly,” said Derby School Superintendent Dr. Matthew Conway.  “Our three schools are older construction so the locks and cameras we install will be a welcome upgrade.”

     The award will be administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection in consultation with the Department of Education and the Department of Construction Services.  


This is taken from a press release from Gentile's office.

Crisco: State grants to support security upgrades

Derby schools to benefit

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, today announced state grants to help underwrite school security upgrades across his 17th District. 

Altogether, nine schools in three area towns – Hamden, Derby, and Naugatuck – have qualified for state support to help underwrite school security upgrades.

Funding is available through a competitive grant program, part of the bipartisan gun violence prevention law enacted after last year’s tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. 

State grants were awarded after school security assessment surveys were conducted by local districts; each will supplement local funding to be provided by the district.

“The legislature set up this program to address the school safety issues that became everyone’s concern last year; this grant program matches schools that have identified needs with the resources we made available to help,” Crisco said. 

“The security infrastructure upgrades we envision are meant to prevent or avoid a crisis wherever possible, and this initiative fortifies our efforts to deter violence in that regard.”

Crisco said school security improvements will include some combination of security cameras and videotaping capabilities, new safety glass, remote-controlled locks, new key

card entry systems, and panic alarms.

“We will never be able to prevent every random act, but we can take the steps necessary to make sure that our children and our teachers are as safe as possible. This funding allows districts with the most need to implement modern security measures that will make schools safer,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said about the new state grants.

Crisco said Derby will add to a $267,873 grant with $107,139 in local funds to upgrade three schools, Hamden will supplement a $152,505 state grant with $107,873 in local funds for improvements at three schools there, and Naugatuck is in line for a $463,314 state grant, to be augmented with $151,486 in local funds for security improvements at three of its schools.

This is a press release from Crisco's office.