Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Every school in Lunenburg County will be getting multiple security upgrades over the next few months. That comes thanks in part to a security funding grant from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), which handed out $12 million in funds to school districts late last week. Out of that number, Lunenburg received $200,000 for projects at Victoria and Kenbridge Elementary, Lunenburg Middle and Central High. 

“The grant will cover a variety of projects that were either requested by the administrators and/or identified through safety audits,” said Stacey Newton. She works as Coordinator of Administrative Services for Lunenburg County Public Schools. 

District staff perform security audits on a regular basis. And look to find ways to renovate or replace pieces of equipment that have seen better days. That $200,000 will cover a number of replacements, Newton said. 

That includes camera and exterior lighting upgrades at all four schools, new fencing to go up around Kenbridge Elementary, a new camera system for several buses, along with a hurricane/intruder film and some new metal detection devices. The school board will also buy multiple new AED devices with the funds. AED stands for automated external defibrillator, which will be on hand just in case of emergencies.

“The equipment purchased with these grants will help ensure the safety of all students and staff in Virginia’s public schools,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons. “Every child deserves a high-quality education experience, one where they can deeply focus on learning and growing the minute they step onto a school bus or pass through the doors of their school. These grants help create safe, supportive environments, both on school grounds and while traveling to and from school.”  

How was security funding given out? 

The 472 schools were awarded funds based on a rank ordering of applications’ point total on the competitive application criteria. The criteria developed by VDOE and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services gives priority 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.   

Most of the other school districts basically followed Lunenburg’s example, as far as what to purchase. That includes equipment applied and approved for purchase include voice and video internal communication systems, mass notification systems, security card access systems, visitor ID badging systems, surveillance cameras, two-way radios, security vestibules, interior bus cameras, and bus two-way radios. The 2024-2025 school year grants have been awarded on a competitive basis, with each awarded school division eligible to receive grant awards up to $250,000.