HASD, three schools plan upgrades
By Scott Bellile
The Wisconsin Department of Justice recently awarded School Safety Grants to a school district and three private schools in the New London and Hortonville areas.
Local grant recipients announced since July 30 are the Hortonville Area School District, Rawhide Boys’ Ranch in the town of Caledonia, Most Precious Blood Catholic School in New London and Bethlehem Lutheran School in Hortonville.
The Press Star reached out to each school or district to learn how educational leaders plan to enhance safety for students.
HASD Superintendent Todd Timm said the district was “extremely fortunate” to receive $122,229 on July 30, which will be applied to six public schools in Hortonville and Greenville.
“Although our community five years ago supported security upgrades at each of our buildings, we had safety needs in the district” yet, Timm said. “We will be purchasing needed security cameras, two-way radio systems, panic alert systems to improve response time during emergency conditions and enhance communication with our building safety teams. In alignment with [the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Incident Management System] protocol, we maintain communication equipment procedures and systems to respond to necessary events. The district will also work with vendors to install shatterproof glass film on eligible door entrance windows.”
Rawhide Boys’ Ranch was given $19,364 on Thursday, Aug. 9.
Aaron Geitner, Rawhide’s communications director, said the dollars will go toward training staff on trauma-informed care as well as upgrading Starr Academy’s cameras and locking system.
“The main purpose of this grant is the safety of not only our employees, our youth that are there, but also the visitors,” Geitner said. “This grant is going to be used in multiple ways, and the bottom line is safety at Rawhide is a high concern. It’s a high priority for us.”
MPB Catholic School landed $20,000 on Aug. 2.
Principal Marie Gorman declined to expand upon the school’s plans until they are finalized, but she said MPB is “very honored to receive the grant.”
Bethlehem Lutheran obtained $20,000 on Thursday, Aug. 9.
Bethlehem Lutheran Principal Mike Schulz did not respond to requests for comment before press time.
Earlier this summer, the DOJ awarded $187,627 to the School District of New London, $20,101 to Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Greenville and $20,075 to Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran School in Greenville.