Will Schwartz, deputy director of legislative services for the Ohio School Boards Association, joined Mike Kallmeyer to discuss the $100 million in school safety grants that is being allocated to school districts across the state by this year’s capital budget.

Schwartz said the money will be used on the physical well-being of public and private schools in Ohio, including things like radio and television programs, perimeter enclosures for school buildings and technological advancements to keep students safe. Schwartz cited a 2021 poll, which showed that nearly 60% of students felt like their schools were not prepared for an emergency.

“This is a multi-layered issue, with multi-layered solutions that we need to be talking with not only folks in the schoolhouse, but in the community and faith-based organizations, law enforcement,” Shwartz said. “The common phrase that ‘we’re all in this together,’ that applies exclusively to this issue.”

Schwartz said families can visit OhioSchoolBoards.org to find out more information about the role the school boards play in keeping schools safe.