Our third Secured School Safety Grant (SSSG) was awarded in September. The grant provided through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) provides funds to improve school safety. St. John’s has used $100,000 to supplement $50,000 from our Capital Improvement Fund over the last two years.

This year we were awarded a grant of just under $37,600. This grant requires us to provide a match of $18,800. However, completing the projects as planned will require $2,700 more … or a total of $21,500.  But the Capital Improvement Fund has a deficit AND we still need to replace HVAC units in the sanctuary!

However, one relatively new feature of the grant is that we can use the cost of a Student and Parent Support Services Plan (SPSSP) to provide the match for the grant. Fortunately, an SPSSP is the work of our Director of Student Success Dr. Tammy Lipscomb. The existing cost of these salaries and benefits can provide the required match if necessary.

At its October meeting the Board of Trustees approved moving forward with some of the planned projects, leaving some until later this spring once we have a better idea of funds available.

Projects will include:

• Door window inserts for the principal’s and counselor’s offices (who regularly meet individually with a student, teacher, or staff person).
• Replace the swinging red gate to the back parking lot with a retractable gate tied into the existing keyless access control system.
• Expand the keyless access control system to secure gymnasium doors and the music room.
• Expand the keyless access controls to the kitchen, cafeteria, and counselor’s office (will wait until the Summer of 2025).