colorado bus

Douglas County, Site of STEM School Highlands Ranch Shooting, Approves Millions in School Safety Funding

County commissioners are putting the funding toward physical security improvements and some mental health programming.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • February 03, 2020

Eight months after a shooting at the STEM School Highlands Ranch claimed the life of student Kendrick Castillo, officials in the county where the shooting took place have allocated millions of dollars to go toward physical security improvements and mental health programs.

The Board of Douglas County Commissioners approved $6.8 million in funding at their Jan. 14 meeting, according to ColoradoPolitics. The county district has 91 public, 15 independent and eight private schools.

Citing confidential budget information, the county left a blank page in their funding agreement that described where $6 million of the funding would be headed, though it is allocated for school security grants.

The remaining $823,182 is being set aside for a mental health project, some of which will include conducting a school “climate and culture survey” and creating a social-emotional learning curriculum, according to ColoradoPolitics. About $250,000 is going toward mental health training, and $204,000 is being used to pay teachers overtime for attending trainings.

In return for the funding, the district is required to report the impact of the grant and disclose if they used additional funds for the school safety programs.

County commissioners have already pledged a total $13.3 million in school security funding overall. Three million dollars are paying to employ 15 additional school resource officers, and $1.3 million is available for “innovation/emerging technology,” ColoradoPolitics reported.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Electrified Latch Retraction Locks Key Benefits for Retrofits

    Building owners and facility managers increasingly rely on electrified hardware to enhance security while meeting accessibility standards. Among these technologies, electrified or motorized latch retraction locks are especially effective for retrofit projects where existing door and frame conditions complicate upgrades. Latch retraction capable locks combine security, accessibility and code compliance benefits, making them ideal for retrofitting fire-rated and non-rated openings in schools, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings and more. 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

  • 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

Most   Popular