Schools receive $550,000 in grants to address violence

Listen to this article

The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded more than $550,000 in grants to address school violence in Wisconsin. The DOJ announced the awards this week.

The Milwaukee Police Department received $250,000 for anonymous reporting. The Wisconsin Cooperative Educational Service Agency 10, an organization that serves students and staff at school districts in the Eau Claire area, will get $249,996 for training programs intended to prevent and respond to mental health crises that may prevent violence at schools.

The Albany School District, south of Madison, also received $51,344 to improve school safety. The school district can use the funding to train and coordinate with law enforcement; buy metal detectors, locks and lighting; and other measures to improve security at schools.

The DOJ awarded more than $85.3 million total to improve school security around the country. The STOP School Violence Act, signed into law in March 2018, authorized the grants.