Valparaiso community schools (VCS) facility and equipment safety improvement project

VCS includes eight elementary, two middle, and one high school. Additionally, VCS offers an alternative school and career and technical education courses both located within the district at independ locations. The goal of this safety improvement project is to provide protections to students and faculty before, during and after school and to bolster communication amongst faculty during safety events or crises. The primary activities for our funding request are as follows: double rfid FOB secure front entrance at our hayes leonard building which hosts our valparaiso alternative learning experience (V.A.L.e), updating the rear door to an entry-resistant door at the rear entrance of V.A.L.e, installing additional interior and exterior cameras at ten schools and the career center, supplying additional two-way radios to eight schools, and installing parking lot security lighting at two schools . Our local community of 34,428, our district including approximately 6300 children and 830 staff will benefit from these safety additions as they will continue to promote our initiative of school safety through secured and recorded access to school sites as well as effective communication during times of crisis.