NEW CONCORD — East Muskingum was looking to upgrade its security systems, and a grant from the state of Ohio will aid the district in that endeavor.

Gov. Mike DeWine recently announced 1,183 schools in 81 Ohio counties will receive nearly $47 million in grant funding from the Ohio K-12 School Safety Grant Program.

Funds will be used to cover expenses associated with physical security enhancements such as security cameras, public address systems, automatic door locks, visitor badging systems and exterior lighting. 

East Muskingum Local Schools will receive $261,950.46 for its buildings, Tri-Valley Local Schools will get $94,783 for its buildings and the Muskingum Valley Education Service Center will be given $9,370 for its main facility.

Dave Adams, East Muskingum's Superintendent, noted the system in his district was installed around 10 years ago. He noted the changes in technology are among the reasons why the district submitted for the grant.

Adams noted his maintenance team, School Resource Officer and principals put together the proposal. The district must use the grant by the end of 2023.

"We’re elated to get this financial assistance so we can make our buildings safer and keep a better record of who is coming and going," Adams said. "Our employees did a great job putting this together and submitting this so we could get this grant. In regards to timing, we needed to upgrade our buzz-in security system, and the quality of our current cameras is lacking. The images weren't clear, and we need new ones."

The district also plans to upgrade its key-card swipe entry system. Adams said they will add those entry systems to several locations in different schools, including near the recess doors at the elementary buildings.

Another update is consolidating the cameras to one system. The district currently uses a DVR system to record images, but newer technology would help them consolidate the system, add to its storage space and allow cameras to be accessed through IP addresses, instead of monitors.

"Our SRO and designated offices would be able to access the cameras from wherever they are," Adams said. "For example if there was a gas leak at the middle school, people at the high school could watch the evacuation process. That's where the cameras would really help us in those cases."

Adams noted the school is considering closing off the vestibules of the schools to assist with security, while also allowing parents to be inside on rainy or cold days.

The district also wants to add sensors to all doors if they are propped open. Adams said they have 44 exterior doors at the high school so it would be a larger project, but it is something the district will look into to make the building more secure.

"We know kids will prop open doors if friends or teammates are late for weight lifting. In that case, where they forget to take the prop out, the sensor would alert someone so it can be closed," Adams said. "Having good door security is important to us, as is improving what we have. We’re excited to get these funds so we can make our buildings safer."