Tennessee Schools Receive Millions in Security Funding

Tennessee Schools Receive Millions in Security Funding

Weeks after the Parkland shooting, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam pushed the Safe Schools Act, which earmarked the money.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • August 08, 2018

Tennesee's 1,700 plus schools will have an additional $30 million to spend on safety and security measures this year.

In the weeks following the Parkland, Fla. shooting on February 14, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam pushed through the Safe Schools Act, which earmarked the millions of dollars for additional school security funding.

Since then, schools across the state have been doing safety assessments and providing the state emergency operations plans (EOP), which is required before individual districts can apply for the funding.

"Within ten days of receiving those applications for funding we make a decision on those funding and actually start moving the money to the district, so they can begin purchasing things or making sure they have people in place if they're hiring a school resource officer," said Dr. Candice McQueen, the state's Education Commissioner.

McQueen said that almost every school system is applying for the additional funds. The deadline for schools to apply is August 31.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

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