Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Area schools to receive security grant upgrades

By LARRY HOLCOMBE

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Wakefield-Marenisco School and All Saints Academy in Ironwood are among 188 public and private schools in the state to share $25 million in grants to upgrade door locks and other security features in the wake of mass shootings in other states.

Gov. Rick Snyder said the grants are part of a “proactive approach” to help prevent tragedies in schools.

W-M received $25,000 and All Saints was given $10,200.

Michigan State Police received 407 applications requesting $69 million — far more than the $25 million authorized by the legislature and Snyder. The agency announced this week it is giving the $25 million to 114 school districts, 42 private schools, 22 charter schools and 10 regional districts.

W-M Superintendent Jason Gustafson told the Daily Globe Thursday he was excited to hear the news. He said they plan to use the money to continue a project of replacing exterior and interior doors in an effort to make the school safer.

He said the district used some of its sinking fund to replace three exterior doors this past summer and the grant will allow them to replace five more sets of exterior doors.

“We should still have money left over, so we’ll start replacing the classroom doors with the rest of the money,” he said, adding the district may have to dip back into the sinking fund to finish that project.

Gustafson called the grant-writing experience a “pretty intense process,” adding they had to tweak their emergency plan in consultation with MSP and Gogebic County Emergency Management personnel.

All Saints Academy did not return the Daily Globe’s phone call Thursday — All Saints Day.

Nine other Upper Peninsula public and private schools, as well as two intermediate school districts, also received grants ranging from $5,000 to $218,000. Statewide, there were 10 grants at or near the maximum of $250,000.

Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 
 
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