Bessemer gets state school safety grant

BESSEMER — The Bessemer Area Schools are soon going to be more secure as the district has been awarded a grant from the Michigan State Police Department as part of the department’s efforts to support school safety initiatives.

Bessemer was one of the 56 public, 15 private and 11 charter schools and five sheriff’s departments across the state to receive a portion of the $4 million available in state grants, according to a Michigan State Police press release announcing the grants on Friday.

“The safety of our students and educators is of paramount importance,” said MSP Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue. “This Competitive School Safety Grant Program will help schools to make improvements that will provide a safer and more learning environment.”

The $18,749 that Bessemer will receive from the program will be used for the purchase cameras and locks for the doors at the district’s Head Start school, Washington Elementary and A.D. Johnston High School according to Gogebic County Emergency Management Coordinator Jim Loeper. He worked with the district in submitting the grant application.

The locks will be crucial in securing the schools, Loeper explained.

“The way it is ... anyone can just walk right on in,” said Loeper. “These will secure all the schools in Bessemer.”

“This is a project I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’m so happy that we got it for Bessemer,” said Loeper.

According to the state police’s press release, Bessemer has until Sept. 15 to spend the funds.

The state received 289 applications totaling over $46 million in requests, according to the release. Eighty percent of the funding went to K-12 schools, the release said, with the remainder going to sheriff’s departments.

For a complete list of award recipients,visit michigan.gov/cjgrants.