NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — In an effort to keep students safe, schools across the Commonwealth are receiving part of a $12 million grant meant to improve school security.
Here in Hampton Roads, this grant will impact 10 school divisions and approximately 75 schools. They include: Chesapeake, Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk, Gloucester, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Williamsburg/James City County, and York County.
The amounts of money and schools impacted differ between the school divisions.
- Chesapeake City Public Schools will receive $110,900 and it will impact two schools: Deep Creek Middle and Indian River Middle
- Gloucester County Public Schools will receive $124,120 and it will impact six schools: Abingdon Elementary, Achilles Elementary, Bethel Elementary, Gloucester High, Page Middle, and Petsworth Elementary
- Hampton City Schools will receive $184,960 and it will impact 31 schools: A.W.E. Bassette Elementary, Aberdeen Elementary, Albert W. Patrick III Elementary, Alfred S. Forrest Elementary, Alternative Learning Center, Ann H. Kilgore Gifted Center, Armstrong Elementary, Barron Elementary, Benjamin Syms Middle, Bethel High, C. Alton Lindsay Middle, Captain John Smith Elementary, Cesar Tarrant Middle, Christopher C. Kraft Elementary, Francis Asbury Elementary, Francis W. Jones Magnet Middle, Hampton High, Hunter B. Andrews, Jane H. Bryan Elementary, Kecoughtan High, Luther W. Machen Elementary, Mary S. Peake Elementary, Mary T. Christian Elementary, Mary W. Jackson Elementary, Moton Early Childhood Center, Paul Burbank Elementary, Phillips Elementary, Phoebus High, Samuel P. Langley Elementary, Thomas Eaton Middle and William Mason Cooper Elementary.
- Newport News Public Schools will receive $232,429 and it will impact eight schools: Achievable Dream Middle/High, Denbigh High, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle, Hidenwood Elementary, John Marshall Early Childhood Center, Mary Passage Middle, and Woodside High.
- Norfolk Public Schools will receive $51,409 and it will impact two schools: Booker T. Washington High and Granby High.
- Portsmouth City Schools will receive $69,520 and it will impact three schools: Churchland Middle, Cradock Middle, and William E. Waters Middle.
- Suffolk Public Schools District will receive $198,715 and it will impact five schools: Booker T. Washington Elementary, Forest Glen Middle, John Yeates Middle, King's Fork High, and King's Fork Middle.
- Virginia Beach City Public Schools will receive $105,505 and it will impact 14 schools: Bayside 6th Grade Campus, Bayside High, Birdneck Elementary, Brandon Middle, Green Run High, Kempsville Meadows Elementary, Parkway Elementary, Pembroke Meadows Elementary, Point O' View Elementary, Providence Elementary, Thalia Elementary, Thoroughgood Elementary, W.T. Cooke Elementary, and Windsor Oaks Elementary.
- Williamsburg/James City County Schools will receive $21,1148 and it will impact three schools: J. Blaine Blayton Elementary, James Blair Middle, and Norge Elementary.
York County Schools will receive $194,816 and it will impact one school: Waller Mill Elementary.
The Virginia Department of Education said it gave priority funding to schools "most in need of modern security equipment, schools with relatively high numbers of offenses, schools with equipment needs identified by a school security audit, and schools in divisions least able to afford security upgrades."
The maximum amount any school division could get was $250,000.