Hand-Held Scanners, Other Safety Tools Available To Schools

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By Seth Fleming
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana is making a variety of resources available to improve safety to the state’s schools from supplying hand-held metal detectors to providing on-site shooter training.

Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement that hand-held metal detectors will be available to any school that wants them at the cost of the state.

“Controlling what comes into our school buildings is just one important part of keeping our schools safe,” Holcomb said. “These handheld metal detectors could make a substantial difference.”

The handheld metal detector program began July 9 and is administered jointly by the Indiana State Police and Department of Administration. One state-funded metal detector is available for every 250 students at the request of any public, charter or accredited non-public school. Schools can place orders through the IDOA website: www.in.gov/idoa/3134.htm.

Indiana’s Department of Homeland Security has received 390 applications from schools across the state for funding to help them beef up security.

As a result of the surplus $5 million set aside by the Indiana General Assembly, all schools that met grant requirements will receive funding. More than $14 million in total will available for safety equipment, school resource officers, and threat assessment.

The legislature also:

  • Created a fund for schools which makes $35 million in low-interest loans available to Indiana schools for reallocation toward school safety protocols;
  • Made an additional $5 million for support of school safety grants that had been approved by Indiana Department of Homeland Security;
  • And dedicated $1 million to support audits for school safety plans throughout Indiana.

In addition, every school corporation in Indiana must have a school safety specialist and each individual school must have a safety plan.

Also, Indiana State Police offers schools training for active shooter situations along with assisting in the development of school safety plans. Schools can schedule training through ISP website.

ISP Capt. David Bursten said the school shooter training is tailored to the school’s needs and to help students and staff understand their options so they survive the event.

FOOTNOTE: Seth Fleming is a reporter with TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

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