Highlands to buy metal detectors, cameras, fencing with state safety grant

Highlands School District will enhance and improve its security and safety measures using a nearly half-million-dollar state grant, a district spokeswoman said.

The district received about $484,000 from the School Safety and Security Committee within the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Highlands was one of 524 school entities that were awarded a total of $53.7 million in grants.

“The district is ecstatic to have received this amount of money that will be used to significantly enhance the safety and security for our students and staff,” Highlands Superintendent Monique Mawhinney said. “Keeping our students and staff safe is our number one priority, so the upgrades to our current systems will help us achieve that goal.”

With the grant money, Highlands will upgrade the district’s phone system, door control and card readers, district spokeswoman Jennifer Goldberg said. It will install networked cameras and buy new radios and walkie-talkies.

The district will buy more metal detectors and upgrade vestibules and outside lighting at its schools. Fencing will be installed around the Early Childhood Center in Brackenridge.

“The funds will also enable the implementation of technology and software to monitor and update compliance with staff training, drills and facilities,” the district said in a statement.

Highlands received the most money of any district in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the second highest award in Allegheny County. The biggest award in the county, nearly $930,000, went to Pittsburgh School District.

Highlands got more than most others because it applied for and was awarded a meritorious grant, which are up to $45,000, as well as a competitive grant, which can be up to $450,000, said Becky Boyle, a spokeswoman for state Sen. Lindsey Williams.

Meritorious grants are determined by attendance, and districts that apply are assured of receiving funding, Boyle said. The competitive side is a scored grant, where districts compete for funding. Districts can apply for both in the same year.

“Highlands was able to secure competitive grant funding, so their total was higher than districts that only applied for meritorious grants or those that applied for and didn’t receive competitive grants,” Boyle said.