Apply for Grants to Invest in Your School's Safety Projects

This blog is an overview of "How to Use Public Safety Funding to Improve Cellular Coverage on Your Campus" by Wilson Electronics.

As safe as we desperately hope for our schools to be, we know that campuses far and wide continue to be at risk of critical emergencies. Whether it be a natural disaster, an active threat or student violence, danger manages to reach schools every day. Brands like Wilson Electronics have made it their goal to increase Security among schools across the United States. 

Invest in Safety

Wilson Electronics gives us some great examples of technology that can benefit and potentially save the lives of anyone on-campus during an emergency:

• Metal Detectors

• Locks

• Alarms

• Lighting

• Emergency Notification Systems

They advise that these systems should not only be installed within every school, but also introduced to and understood by every person in the building:

"Emergency training is vital, and both teachers, students, staff, and local first responders greatly benefit from enhanced training on school emergencies."

Explore Grant Programs

Does equipment and training sounds like a lot of time and resources that your school doesn't currently have access to? Your organization has the opportunity to apply for federal grants that function to fund safety training, system development, and technology installations in schools. Use Grant Finder Tool >

The STOP School Violence Program, for example, or even the School Violence Prevention Program, distributes grants to local law enforcement, state or city governments, and to federally recognized Indian tribes, and school districts. For the organizations that do qualify for these programs, Wilson Electronics strongly recommends allocating those funds towards school safety and security:

• Train school officials to respond to mental health emergencies

• Train school personnel and students to prevent student violence

• Train local law enforcement to deter student violence

• Develop anonymous reporting systems

• Formally assess campus safety and threats

• Install metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures

• Install technology that expedites notification of local law enforcement during emergencies

Tips For Success

These programs have seen countless applications and proposals, so yours will need to stand out to succeed. Follow these tips and tricks that have withstood the tests of time and trial:

• Start your grant application process early

• Review, review, and re-review legal requirements for your desired grant

• Assess your campus and develop proposal ideas

• Create SMART goals

• Plan out a realistic budget and timeframe with the help of a Budget Detail Worksheet

• Solicit community support 

• Make sure your grant is polished and professional

• Submit your application 72 hours prior to the deadline

• Avoid common mistakes

Resources

• Visit SchoolSafety.gov, a federal government website that updates schools and districts on how to best create a safe and supportive learning environment 

• Reach out to a Protective Security Advisor (PSA) to assess your campus’s safety

• Utilize Exercise Starter Kits to refine and polish your emergency plans