Leadership Matters - October 2013

IEMA to offer school security grants   By Michael Chamness IASA Communications Director

The state’s emergency management chief says that a new school safety grant program could have a big impact throughout the state despite a relatively small amount of funding. “We’re looking for low-cost, high-impact security improvements for schools,” said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the state agency that will oversee the $25 million competitive school safety grant program. “We want to take a handful of proven, successful physical improvements and help as many schools as we can.” While the details of the program have yet to be finalized, a notice of proposed rules was published in the September 6 issue of the Illinois Register , and the Joint Committee for Administrative Rules (JCAR) has begun a 45-day public comment period that will run through mid-October. The basic details include:  The projects eligible for the program include specific building or district-wide physical security enhancement equipment, inspection and screening systems, information technology and/or interoperable communications equipment for buildings where students are present.  $15 million will be with $5 million for Cook County schools and $5 million for higher education.  IEMA expects to begin taking applications in January of 2014.  Among other items, applications will include a narrative describing how the project will reduce vulnerability of the student population, the budget for the project and the timeline to complete the project. Projects must be completed within 12 months of being awarded the grant. Monken said items such as door locking systems, protective film for windows and cameras are the sort of items that may be included in the program. “We are looking for proposals that are reasonably available for K-12 schools outside of Cook County,

priced and provide significant impact. Those are the things that will take these dollars much further,” he said. “We are not going to be able to fund major overhauls or big construction projects.” Monken said grant caps are being contemplated. He said he anticipates the grant guidance will include a menu of items listed by graduated tiers of safety measures, starting with basic items such as door locks being and progressing to more sophisticated equipment. “One idea is to offer those tiers of security measures and equipment that public safety experts

recommend,” Monken said. “We’re not saying that you cannot choose something off the menu, but if you do the bar to clear for approval would be higher.” While the funding is admittedly relatively low for such a large student

“ We’re looking for low-cost, high-impact security improvements for schools.”

- Jonathon Monken, director of IEMA

population spread across one of the largest states in the country, Monken believes the investment could pay big safety dividends. “When you look at school safety holistically, you have prevention, preparedness and protection, and that protection piece is the most cost-intensive,” said Monken, a West Point graduate who served as interim director of Illinois State Police before being named IEMA director in 2011. “Costs should not be a limiting factor when it comes to making schools safe, and if we use these funds efficiently we can improve school safety because there are a lot of low-cost, high-impact things you can do to make schools more secure.”

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