The Kansas Board of Education has doled out $5 million in security grants approved by the Legislature this session.
This year’s round of grants is similar to the $5 million the Legislature allocated for school security last year, although the scope was narrowed somewhat.
So far, it’s been a year-to-year program with no guarantee that it would be funded in the future.
Last year, the Legislature said the money could generally be used for school safety and security improvements approved by the Board of Education.
This year, the legislation said the money should be used specifically for security cameras and other equipment for monitoring school buildings and facilities, as well as for securing doors, windows and entrances.
The board received requests totaling about $12.8 million from 169 school districts.
The money was distributed based on $19.24 per pupil or actual dollars requested, whichever was lower.
The legislation requires that grants received by school districts be matched with local funds dollar for dollar at a minimum.
Board member Jim McNiece questioned to what extent the $5 million helped schools.
“Did the $5 million – I know it helped – but was it significant help or piecemeal help?” McNiece said.
He suggested that the board need to develop a comprehensive plan that would establish a base line for school safety standards.
“Do our standards really push us to what these districts need?” he asked.
Here are some examples of how some of the districts that received larger sums of money plan to use their grant money.
Kansas City is plans to use $286,500 in grant funds to help pay for a system that would help students and teachers seek safety in the event of an active shooter. The system – called SafeDefend – allows teachers and staff to activate an security alert telling other school employees and authorities about the exact location of an intruder.
Geary County Schools plans to spend its $124,257 to ensure that all of its buildings have a base standard of security camera coverage. The district has eight buildings with some security camera coverage and 11 that do not. The grant makes sure that all buildings in the district have security camera coverage.
Blue Valley intends to use its $429,000 so it can outfit classrooms with interior locks. Many of the districts classrooms are equipped with key cylinders than can only be locked from the outside.
Olathe received $250,000 that it will put toward interior door barricades that will be installed on 950 classroom doors at 36 elementary schools and at select middle and high schools with student populations whose mobility is a concern.
Wichita, which received $921,000, had sought money for indoor and outdoor video cameras, metal detectors, teacher door locks and card readers, among other things.
The Auburn-Washburn School District received about $117,000. It requested money for, among other things, to secure the front of each building and the access road between Washburn Rural High School and Washburn Rural Middle School to prevent vehicle-born attacks.
The school district also sought money for magnetic door holds for all interior doors that could be activated in an emergency situation. The holds could be activated with a panic button in the office.
Here is a break down of how much each district received compared to what they requested. The districts are arranged by county in alphabetical order.
Allen County
District: Iola
Amount requested: $8,757
Amount received: $8,757
District: Humboldt
Amount requested: $22,360
Amount received: $11,342
Anderson County
District: Garnett
Amount requested: $26,477
Amount received: $18,909
District: Crest
Amount requested: $12,779
Amount received: $4,102
Atchison County
District: Atchison County Community Schools
Requested: $100,000
Amount received: $9,293
District: Atchison Public Schools
Amount requested: $50,000
Amount received: $31,750
Barber County
District: South Barber
Amount requested: $16,000
Amount received: $4,675
Barton County
District: Hoisington
Amount requested: $49,158
Amount received: $13,841
Bourbon County
District: Fort Scott
Amount requested: $108,802
Amount received: $36,142
Brown County
District: South Brown County
Amount requested: $7,155
Amount received: $7,155
Butler County
District: Andover
Amount requested: $316,438
Amount received: $103,665
District: Augusta
Amount requested: $41,946
Amount received: $41,337
District: El Dorado
Amount requested: $20,000
Amount received: $20,000
Chautauqua County
District: Chautauqua County Community Schools
Amount requested: $4,000
Amount received: $4,000
Cherokee County
District: Riverton
Amount requested: $49,818
Amount received: $13,891
District: Columbus
Amount requested: $4,796
Amount received: $4,796
District: Galena
Amount requested: $13,900
Amount received: $13,900
District: Baxter Springs
Amount requested: $30,844
Amount received: $17,662
Cheyenne County
District: St. Francis Community Schools
Amount requested: $21,000
Amount received: $5,031
Clark County
District: Minneola
Amount requested: $21,063
Amount received: $4,570
District: Ashland
Amount requested: $5,000
Amount received: $4,017
Cloud County
District: Concordia
Amount requested: $14,365
Amount received: $14,365
Coffey County
District: Burlington
Amount requested: $60,000
Amount received: $15,786
District: LeRoy-Gridley
Amount requested: $4,670
Amount received: $3,896
Comanche County
District: Comanche County
Amount requested: $9,458
Amount received: $6,013
Cowley County
District: Winfield
Amount requested: $50,000
Amount received: $41,980
District: Arkansas City
Amount requested: $86,112
Amount received: $54,191
Crawford County
District: Frontenac Public Schools
Amount requested: $15,000
Amount received: $15,000
District: Pittsburg
Amount requested: $21,000
Amount received: $21,000
Dickinson County
District: Solomon
Amount requested: $12,500
Amount received: $6,291
District: Chapman
Amount requested: $25,000
Amount received: $20,298
District: Rural Vista
Amount requested: $2,452
Amount received: $2,452
District: Herington
Amount requested: $7,159
Amount received: $7,159
Doniphan County
District: Riverside
Amount requested: $9,993
Amount received: $9,993
District: Troy Public Schools
Amount requested: $17,206
Amount received: $6,715
Douglas County
District: Baldwin City
Amount requested: $180,000
Amount received: $26,030
District: Eudora
Amount requested: $34,000
Amount received: $33,064
District: Lawrence
Amount requested: $71,137
Amount received: $71,137
Edwards County
District: Kinsley-Offerle
Amount requested: $1,800
Amount received: $1,800
District: Lewis
Amount requested: $5,943
Amount received: $2,184
Ellis County
District: Victoria
Amount requested: $6,131
Amount received: $5,532
District: Hays
Amount requested: $110,000
Amount received: $58,669
Ellsworth County
District: Central Plains
Amount requested: $88,500
Amount received: $8,822
District: Ellsworth
Amount requested: $9,880
Amount received: $9,880
Finney County
District: Garden City
Amount requested: $40,000
Amount received: $40,000
Ford County
District: Spearville
Amount requested: $15,000
Amount received: $6,215
District: Bucklin
Amount requested: $22,000
Amount received: $4,493
Franklin County
District: Central Heights
Amount requested: $16,003
Amount received: $9,689
District: Wellsville
Amount requested: $42,914
Amount received: $15,017
Geary County
District: Geary County Schools
Amount requested: $124,257
Amount received: $124,257
Gove County
District: Quinter Public Schools
Amount requested: $66,067
Amount received: $5,849
Graham County
District: Graham County
Amount requested: $37,692
Amount received: $7,417
Gray County
District: Ingalls
Amount requested: $96,500
Amount received: $4,242
Greeley County
District: Greeley County Schools
Amount requested: $37,000
Amount received: $4,868
Greenwood County
District: Madison-Virgil
Amount requested: $2,043
Amount received: $2,043
Harper County
District: Anthony-Harper
Amount requested: $30,000
Amount received: $15,359
District: Attica
Amount requested: $5,337
Amount received: $3,088
Harvey County
District: Newton
Amount requested: $16,781
Amount received: $16,781
District: Hesston
Amount requested: $34,726
Amount received: $16,115
Hodgeman County
District: Hodgeman County Schools
Amount requested: $3,448
Amount received: $3,448
Jackson County
District: Holton
Amount requested: $61,059
Amount received: $20,770
District: Royal Valley
Amount requested: $13,626
Amount received: $13,626
Jefferson County
District: Valley Falls
Amount requested: $14,978
Amount received: $7,051
District: Jefferson County North
Amount requested: $18,291
Amount received: $8,745
District: Jefferson West
Amount requested: $60,500
Amount received: $16,194
District: McLouth
Amount requested: $46,071
Amount received: $9,160
District: Perry Public Schools
Amount requested: $6,205
Amount received: $6,205
Johnson County
District: Blue Valley
Amount requested: $3 million
Amount received: $429,614
District: Spring Hill
Amount requested: $85,356
Amount received: $59,277
District: De Soto
Amount requested: $60,000
Amount received: $60,000
District: Olathe
Amount requested: $250,000
Amount received: $250,000
Kearny County
District: Lakin
Amount requested: $10,500
Amount received: $10,500
Kingman County
District: Kingman-Norwich
Amount requested: $44,385
Amount received: $16,639
District: Cunningham
Amount requested: $8,813
Amount received: $3,290
Labette County
District: Oswego
Amount requested: $6,000
Amount received: $6,000
Lane County
District: Healy Public Schools
Amount requested: $2,942
Amount received: $1,000
Leavenworth County
District: Leavenworth
Amount requested: $325,000
Amount received: $70,355
District: Basehor-Linwood
Amount requested: $11,122
Amount received: $11,122
District: Tonganoxie
Amount requested: $29,654
Amount received: $29,654
District: Lansing
Amount requested: $41,000
Amount received: $41,000
Lincoln County
District: Lincoln
Amount requested: $20,147
Amount received: $6,461
Linn County
District: Jayhawk
Amount requested: $18,889
Amount received: $11,021
Logan County
District: Oakley
Amount requested: $22,500
Amount received: $7,836
Lyon County
District: North Lyon County
Amount requested: $374,000
Amount received: $6,667
District: Southern Lyon County
Amount requested: $41,477
Amount received: $8,997
District: Emporia
Amount requested: $101,368
Amount received: $86,055
Marshall County
District: Marysville
Amount requested: $6,745
Amount received: $6,745
District: Vermillion
Amount requested: $7,613
Amount received: $7,613
District: Valley Heights
Amount requested: $8,742
Amount received: $7,973
McPherson County
District: McPherson
Amount requested: $65,000
Amount received: $45,533
District:Inman
Amount requested: $46,245
Amount received: $7,571
Meade County
District: Fowler
Amount requested: $5,000
Amount received: $2,588
Miami County
District: Osawatomie
Amount requested: $9,563
Amount received: $9,563
District: Paola
Amount requested: $41,626
Amount received: $37,199
District: Louisburg
Amount requested: $47,750
Amount received: $32,358
Mitchell County
District: Waconda
Amount requested: $2,210
Amount received: $2,210
District: Beloit
Amount requested: $21,000
Amount received: $15,038
Montgomery County
District: Caney Valley
Amount requested: $30,000
Amount received: $14,420
District: Coffeyville
Amount requested: $78,770
Amount received: $33,514
District: Independence
Amount requested: $9,000
Amount received: $9,000
District: Cherryvale
Amount requested: $70,000
Amount received: $15,132
Morris County
District: Morris County
Amount requested: $288,317
Amount received: $15,180
Morton County
District: Rolla
Amount requested: $4,902
Amount received: $2,174
District: Elkhart
Amount requested: $27,787
Amount received: $7,921
Nemaha County
District: Prairie Hills
Amount requested: $9,492
Amount received: $9,492
District: Nemaha Central
Amount requested: $18,656
Amount received: $ 11,119
Neosho County
District: Erie-Galesburg
Amount requested: $10,000
Amount received: $9,456
District: Chanute Public Schools
Amount requested: $36,215
Amount received: $35,450
Ness County
District: Ness City
Amount requested: $14,500
Amount received: $5,455
Norton County
District: Northern Valley
Amount requested: $31,964
Amount received: $ 2,809
Osage County
District: Osage City
Amount requested: $25,000
Amount received: $13,035
District: Santa Fe Trail
Amount requested: $42,730
Amount received: $19,257
District: Burlingame Public Schools
Amount requested: $5,000
Amount received: $5,000
District: Marais Des Cygnes Valley
Amount requested: $8,000
Amount received: $3,983
Pawnee County
District: Ft. Larned
Amount requested: $77,075
Amount received: $16,298
Pottawatomie County
District: Onaga-Havensville-Wheaton
Amount requested: $21,000
Amount received: 5,849
District: Rock Creek
Amount requested: $98,708
Amount received: $20,777
Pratt County
District: Skyline Schools
Amount requested: $46,888
Amount received: $7,465
Rawlins County
District:Rawlins County
Amount requested: $13,070
Amount received: $6,809
Reno County
District: Hutchinson Public Schools
Amount requested: $164,000
Amount received: 83,484
District: Nickerson
Amount requested: $39,995
Amount received: $20,902
District: Fairfield
Amount requested: $2,825
Amount received: $2,825
District: Pretty Prairie
Amount requested: $17,000
Amount received: $ 5,272
District: Haven Public Schools
Amount requested: $17,572
Amount received: 14,449
Rice County
District: Sterling
Amount requested: $13,000
Amount received: $9,380
Riley County
District: Manhattan-Ogden
Amount requested: $6,501
Amount received: $6,501
Rooks County
District: Palco
Amount requested: $7,281
Amount received: $1,770
District: Plainville
Amount requested: $33,269
Amount received: $ 6,522
District: Stockton
Amount requested: $1,560
Amount received: $1,560
Rush County
District: Otis-Bison
Amount requested: $20,000
Amount received: $4,764
Russell County
District: Russell County
Amount requested: $94,044
Amount received: $16,392
Saline County
District: Salina
Amount requested: $50,000
Amount received: $50,000
District: Southeast of Saline
Amount requested: $8,404
Amount received: $8,404
District: Ell-Saline
Amount requested: $17,500
Amount received: $8,985
Scott County
District: Scott County
Amount requested: $67,453
Amount received: $18,874
Sedgwick County
District: Wichita
Amount requested: $1,256,883
Amount received: $921,475
District: Derby
Amount requested: $252,051
Amount received: $133,127
District: Valley Center Public Schools
Amount requested: $53,832
Amount received: $ 53,832
District: Mulvane
Amount requested: $252,051
Amount received: $34,661
District: Clearwater
Amount requested: $115,000
Amount received: $21,424
District: Renwick
Amount requested: $286,300
Amount received: $34,363
District: Cheney
Amount requested: $21,062
Amount received: $14,732
Seward County
District: Liberal
Amount requested: $399,849
Amount received: $91,400
District: Kismet-Plains
Amount requested: $21,792
Amount received: $11,958
Shawnee County
District: Seaman
Amount requested: $17,353
Amount received: $17,353
District: Auburn Washburn
Amount requested: $142,200
Amount received: $119,190
District: Shawnee Heights
Amount requested: $9,000
Amount received: $9,000
Sherman County
District: Goodland
Amount requested: $48,330
Amount received: $17,576
Smith County
District: Smith Center
Amount requested: $3,291
Amount received: $3,291
Stafford County
District: Stafford
Amount requested: $132,500
Amount received: $4,816
District: Macksville
Amount requested: $9,000
Amount received: $4,165
Stanton County
District: Stanton County
Amount requested: $10,000
Amount received: $8,341
Stevens County
District: Moscow Public Schools
Amount requested: $670
Amount received: $670
Sumner County
District: Wellington
Amount requested: $133,564
Amount received: $29,916
District: Belle Plaine
Amount requested: $34,050
Amount received: $11,752
District: Argonia Public Schools
Amount requested: $5,750
Amount received: $3,338
District: Caldwell
Amount requested: $2,182
Amount received: $2,182
Thomas County
District: Colby Public Schools
Amount requested: $8,610
Amount received: $8,610
Wabaunsee County
District: Mill Creek Valley
Amount requested: $1,250
Amount received: $1,250
District: Mission Valley
Amount requested: $10,000
Amount received: $8,344
Wallace County
District: Wallace County Schools
Amount requested: $7,165
Amount received: $3,810
Washington County
District: Barnes
Amount requested: $4,055
Amount received: $4,055
Wichita County
District: Leoti
Amount requested: $16,338
Amount received: $7,534
Wilson County
District: Neodesha
Amount requested: $109,800
Amount received: 13,458
District: Fredonia
Amount requested: $30,581
Amount received: $13,545
Woodson County
District: Woodson
Amount requested: $3,747
Amount received: $3,747
Wyandotte County
District: Turner
Amount requested: $295,000
Amount received: $76,402
District: Bonner Springs
Amount requested: $22,749
Amount received: $22,749
District: Kansas City
Amount requested: $286,500
Amount received: $286,500
