District seeks $208,000 DCJS grant for five school security officers; local match required

A presentation May 21 outlined a Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) school security officer grant that would add five security officers across Petersburg schools, with the district required to provide a local match.

The presenter said the grant award amount is $208,000 and that the required local match would total roughly $75,643, about 37 percent of the grant's value as presented to the board. The plan as described would place two officers at Petersburg High School, one shared officer for Walnut Hill and Lakemont, and additional officers at Vernon Johns Middle School, Blandford Academy, Cool Springs and Pleasant Lane (coverage configurations were described in the staff presentation).

The presenter said the additional officers would be intended both as a deterrent and to build relationships with students and families, not solely for enforcement. The superintendent and staff asked whether board minutes approval would satisfy state paperwork; grant staff agreed to double-check whether formal signatures beyond approved minutes are required.

Board members discussed funding logistics; the presenter said the local match would come from local funds and that, while the match percentage is substantial, the district would in effect be paying for fewer than two officers while receiving five positions funded in part through the grant. The board requested confirmation of any required signatures or additional items the state needs for final award processing.

There was no separate recorded motion or final vote on the grant during the meeting transcript excerpt; staff indicated board approval of moving forward would be sought as needed once final award documents and signature requirements were confirmed.