House Republican Press Release

January 25, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Candelora Announces School Security Funds for North Branford

HARTFORD –State Representative Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) today announced the awarding of school security grants for schools in North Branford through the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  North Branford High School, Totoket Valley Elementary School, Stanley T. Williams School, and Jerome Harrison School combined to receive $53,156.79.

The grants were awarded through a competitive process, with schools applying for reimbursement for items such as surveillance cameras, panic alarms, scan card systems and entry buzzers.  The applications were reviewed by DEMHS, the Department of Public Safety and the State Department of Education.  The North Branford portion was part of a $5 million overall grant program aimed at enhancing security in 360 Connecticut schools.

North Branford intends to use its award to install additional video surveillance locations, replace exterior doors and to add locking systems and key pads to exterior school doors.

“School security has been a great concern for parents, teachers and administrators in the district,” said Candelora.  “I am grateful that Governor Rell shares our concerns by awarding the schools this significant grant.  The administration also made a very compelling case in their application for this money, and I am glad that this priority project can be accomplished without taking local dollars away from the education of our students.”

This is the first year of this type of grant funding, and an additional $5 million will be available to Connecticut schools next year to continue to enhance security.  The opening of the process for those applications is expected to be announced in 2008.