Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that $347,495 has been awarded to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office to increase school safety across western Maine.  The funding will be used to improve coordination with local law enforcement, train local law enforcement officers to prevent school violence, upgrade infrastructure such as lighting, acquire technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency, and other measures.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office collaborated on the grant application process with the Jay, Farmington, Rangeley, Wilton, and Carrabasset Valley Police Departments.  The school districts that will receive funding include: RSU 73, RSU 9, RSU 58, Rangeley Schools, and Stratton Schools.

“Protecting students and ensuring that Maine schools remain safe learning environments are of paramount importance,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.  “We welcome this investment, which will increase school safety by assisting communities with installing security measures and enhancing connections between schools and law enforcement to ensure that potential threats can be rapidly addressed. 

This funding is provided through the Department of Justice’s Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP): School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), a competitive grant program that assists schools in purchasing and installing technology to increase safety in schools throughout the country through evidence-based school safety programs.  The nearly $72 million in grants awarded during 2022 will fund 235 projects.