46 Henrico schools receive state grant for school security equipment

, and Liana Hardy

November 24, 2023 . 2:21 PM

2 min read

The Virginia Department of Education awarded 46 Henrico schools with $95,991 in grant funding for new school security equipment for the 2023-2024 school year.

Of the 98 school divisions awarded funding, Henrico Schools had the most schools that were allocated the grant money. HCPS will use the funding to purchase Exit Stopper door alarms, wireless security devices that will ring if a protected door is opened, for all of the 46 schools, according to HCPS spokesperson Eileen Cox.

Similar alarms are in place at other HCPS schools, according to Cox, and the door alarms will add onto existing school alarm systems.

The VDOE awarded a total of $12 million in School Security Equipment Grants to 483 schools, according to a Nov. 20 press release. Grants were awarded to schools most in need of modern security equipment, schools with relatively high numbers of offenses, schools with equipment needs identified by a school security audit, and schools in divisions least able to afford security upgrades, according to criteria developed by the VDOE and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.

Henrico Schools also implemented weapons scanners at all high schools this past August and will have the scanners in all middle schools by this week. Weapons scanners will be placed in all elementary schools sometime during this school year.

The schools that received grant funding are listed below: