Cadillac, Michigan Area Public Schools (CAPS) received funds as part of the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services, School Violence Prevention Program grant. The district will be getting $473,106 and will use those funds to enhance school safety at secondary buildings and the Viking Learning Center.

CAPS Superintendent Jennifer Brown told the Cadillac News that the district was informed it was one of only five Michigan schools to receive funds through the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services, School Violence Prevention Program grant. 

The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the Community Oriented Policing Services or COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, or Indian tribes to improve security at schools through evidence-based school safety programs.

School Violence Prevention Program funding will provide up to 75% funding for the following school safety measures in and around K-12 schools and school grounds including coordination with and training for law enforcement to prevent student violence; and technology such as emergency notification, panic buttons, two-way radios, metal detectors, door hardware and other physical security measures.

Brown told the Cadillac News that the district will be putting in about $135,000 to bring the total amount up to $608,000. While the district is putting in more than $100,000, Brown said the work to be done wouldn’t happen without the grant.