The grants will reimburse municipalities for a portion of the costs associated with making safety and security improvements in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), the Department of Education (SDE), and the Department of Construction Services (DCS), the funding will go to schools with the most need — buildings with little or no existing security infrastructure located in school districts that are struggling financially.
Two additional rounds of funding, both $5 million, are expected in the next year, brining the total to $15 million.
The School Security Infrastructure Council, also formed under the new gun violence prevention legislation, is holding its first meeting this week. Its initial report outlining best practices in school safety and security is due January 2014 and will provide a framework for municipal reimbursable expenses.
