Pickett County Schools utilizing a new state security grant to purchase communication equipment and install window tinting at the high school.
Safety Coordinator Ethan Holt said the district received $5,700 through the Public School Security Grant. Holt said the funding is a one-time allocation that limits the scope of potential projects.
“We’re going to fill a couple empty spots we have some teacher radios that are with students every day, so all the other teachers have them,” Holt said. “So just trying to get every teacher that’s with students to have a radio for communication.”
Holt said the window tinting at the high school will serve as a privacy measure. The goal of the installation is to block exterior views into the building during the school day.
“I’d like to say they gave us tens of thousands of dollars but they didn’t,” Holt said. “We got $5,700 and some change for that grant, just a one-time thing, so we can’t do a ton with it.”
Holt said officials have discussed larger safety projects if more significant funding becomes available in the future. One priority is the construction of security vestibules to manage how visitors enter the buildings.
“Just a safe area for parents to come in, not necessarily a holding area but keeps them separated from the students,” Holt said.