$20 million went to SC schools to increase campus safety

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Millions of dollars are going to South Carolina schools to increase campus safety, and the state’s superintendent of education says expanding those efforts will be one of her priorities for lawmakers when they finish their work in Columbia in January resume.

“If our students and teachers are not safe, nothing else matters,” said state Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver.

On Thursday, Governor Henry McMaster and Weaver met with law enforcement officials and more than 60 local supervisors from across South Carolina to discuss school safety.

“What I think is the job of the government, my part of the government, is to make sure that they have the resources, the safety and the teachers that they need to educate these new generations of South Carolinians that are coming up teaching,” McMaster told reporters after the meeting.

This year, about $20 million will be distributed to 67 school districts for campus safety improvements, which could go toward upgrades such as door locks, metal detectors and radios.

Some districts also plan to spend their money — about $2 million in total — on storage aids and cell phone pouches a new national ban about students’ use of mobile phones during the school day.

“We know that when a situation arises in a school, the most important thing is that the student is completely focused on the adult guiding them to safety, not staring at a screen or distracted by video recordings,” Weaver said.

Over the past two years, lawmakers have allocated a total of $40 million to the Department of Education school safety grants to local districts.

Weaver said she plans to request another $20 million in the state budget next year for a third round.

“The needs we are seeing surface in our districts far exceed the amount of money provided to us to date, but we are incredibly grateful to the General Assembly for stepping up and answering the call to that end,” Weaver said.

School safety has been a focus for state leaders in recent years.

Last year, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division opened one safety training center for schools in Lexington County, with help from the Department of Education, the governor’s office and lawmakers.

Law enforcement officers and school personnel can use the facility for training in active-shooter situations and other emergency situations.

In the current state budget, the Department of Education received $5 million for a new school mapping program to help first responders during emergencies.

“We are currently conducting government tenders for this. We will be working with a supplier to complete that this school year,” Weaver said.

One of McMaster’s top education priorities during his administration was to ensure that there was a school resource officer in every school in South Carolina.

The governor’s office said there are still 177 schools without a full-time SRO, but they hope to reduce that number to zero with funding in the next budget.