Utah School Security Proposal Seeks $195 Million

Utah School Security Proposal Seeks $195 Million

A proposal presented to a legislative committee seeks more than $195 million for Utah school security measures

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • November 23, 2018

A proposal presented to a legislative committee seeks more than $195 million for Utah school security measures and an additional $30 million to hire or contract with mental health and school safety personnel who would work in the schools. 

While any schools have already paid for safety improvements such as installing surveillance cameras, vestibule doors that must be opened by school personnel and even fire doors capable of sealing off wings of a school, the plan seeks $164 million in one-time funding to "increase on-site protection and resources through construction."

The State School Board will establish rules to determine how to distribute funding for personnel or physical improvements to schools, according to the proposal. 

The plan also seeks nearly $1.3 million for the State Board of Education to fund and maintain a threat assessment database tool; $180,000 for a safety analyst position and $65,000 for mental health support services training.

It also asked for $300,000 to be appropriated to other agencies, half for a school-public safety law enforcement liaison hired by the Department of Public Safety and the rest for the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to employ a school-based mental health specialist. Both would be housed in the offices of the Utah State Board of Education.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • 77% of Americans Support Gun Detection Technology in Schools, Workplaces, and Houses of Worship

    More than three-quarters of Americans (77.4%) believe gun detection technology should be deployed in schools, workplaces, and other public spaces, according to new survey data released recently. The national survey shows strong support for incorporating camera-based gun detection into existing video surveillance systems. Read Now

Most   Popular