Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

South Dakota Receives $2 Million for School Security

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 10/16/19

South Dakota received three grants totaling $2 million to help school districts prevent and address threats of violence.

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety received the grants from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance’s STOP School Violence Program.      

“These grants will be incredibly beneficial in our schools and better equip us to provide resources and training in the areas of violence prevention and threat recognition,” Gov. Kristi Noem said in a press release. “While we hope our schools never experience violence, it is important we equip them with the resources they need to enhance safety and prepare teachers and students to recognize potential threats.”

These are the three different grants:

  • $998,000 will help the state establish a School Safety Resource Center. The center will distribute the best practices for school safety, handle requests for threat recognition training, requests for physical security assessments for K-12 school buildings.
  • $500,000 will establish prevention and mental health training programs with the help from mental health professionals.
  • $500,000 will focus on technology and threat assessment solutions for school programs.

The grant money cannot be used to purchase weapons, equipment, or fund salaries for school resource officers. The programs will be run by the state’s Office of Homeland of Security.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • University of Mary Washington Selects Builder for New Theater, Dance Facility

    The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., recently announced that it has selected construction and development firm Skanska to lead a series of renovations and upgrades to fine arts facilities, according to a news release.

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • Texas A&M Opens First Building at Fort Worth Campus, Breaks Ground on Research Facility

    The Texas A&M University System marked a major milestone in the development of its Fort Worth campus by opening its first completed academic building and breaking ground on a second facility designed to expand research and industry collaboration.

  • Missouri Child Development Center Completes $2.3M Expansion

    The Urban Sprouts Child Development Center in St. Louis, Mo., recently announced the completion of a $2.3-million expansion and adaptive reuse project, according to a news release. The new space includes a retail café, outdoor learning space, and a support office building.