January 5, 2015

Rep. Case proposes flexible safety spending for local schools

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HARTFORD – School districts struggling financially might have some reprieve if a proposal by State Rep. Jay Case (R-63) makes it into law this year.

Case’s measure would amend a 2013 law that has awarded $44 million in school security infrastructure grants, administered to hundreds of Connecticut schools following the Sandy Hook tragedy. These districts, hoping to improve monitoring and secure access to buildings, would be permitted to carryover any unspent grant funds to the next fiscal year.

Unfortunately for some cash-strapped districts, the grants’ expiration date didn’t give administrators enough time to act.

“The state is budgeting this money to improve the safety of our schools and to keep our children safe,” Case said. “It only makes sense to give districts more flexibility to use all the money. But if these schools haven’t spent the money by the end of June, it goes away and the state is left in a deeper hole. My hope is to extend the availability of those grants so taxpayers save money and, most importantly, the schools with infrastructure needs get their improvements and repairs.”

Under Case’s proposal, the districts would still be required to spend the funding for infrastructure improvements listed on its grant application.

The bill comes during the budget-negotiating 2015 legislative session – opening on Wednesday – where lawmakers are pursuing cuts and streamlining spending.

“If we address this potential problem of excess funds, we can look elsewhere to trim funding so we don’t hurt these districts. At the same time, we’re ensuring safe schools and safe children,” he said.

The state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, along with the Construction Services and the Education departments, issued nearly $22 million in infrastructure grants in 2013, and another $22 million in 2014 to 604 schools in 111 districts. Districts that received the funding are required to spend the money by June 30, 2015, on anything from buzzer systems and electronic door locks to new doors and surveillance systems.

Through the school security matching-grant program, Regional School District 7, headquartered in Winsted, has received $43,542 in state funding; Torrington schools have received $13,386 and Winchester has acquired $80,289.