Special to the Ledger

On hand for the announcement of the school security grant were: (l to r) State Rep. Kim Fawcett (Fairfield); Greg Patchen, a parent and board member at West Hartford’s Solomon Schechter School; Bob Fishman, JFACT executive director; Gov. Malloy; Rabbi Yerachmiel Karr, Yeshiva K’tanah of Waterbury; and State Rep. Betty Boukus (New Britain/Plainville).

WETHERSFIELD – On Wednesday, July 16­­, Governor Dannel Malloy announced a new State of Connecticut $22 million grant for school security, of which 10 percent will be allotted to private schools. The grant represents the next round of the School Security Grant Program, which was part of the state’s historic 2013 legislation on gun violence prevention, mental health and school safety. Including the 2014 grant, the state has made $43 million available for school security since 2013.

“Providing safe learning environments for our students and educators is a basic responsibility of state and local governments,” said Malloy in making the announcement at the Silas Deane Middle School in Wethersfield. “With this additional funding, we will have made $43 million available to improve school security in just over a year. Connecticut has made significant strides in our effort to provide safe learning environments for our students. This next round of funding will allow us to get the resources out to communities that need to modernize their school security infrastructure to help keep students safe.”

The Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut (JFACT) joined with the state’s Catholic schools to lobby for the grant’s inclusion of religious private schools.

Day schools interested in applying for the grant should contact JFACT Executive Director Bob Fishman at (860) 727-5701.