Boone County lawmakers: State awards funding to local schools for safety upgrades
STATEHOUSE (Sept. 24, 2026) – Boone County schools recently received more than $275,000 from Indiana's Secured School Safety Grant Program, according to area legislators.
State Rep. Becky Cash (R-Zionsville) said the program, which was established through legislation the General Assembly passed in 2013, provides matching grants to school corporations, accredited non-public schools and charter schools to help pay for critical safety improvements.
"Students, teachers and families should feel confident that their schools are safe places to learn," said Cash, who serves on the House Education Committee. "These matching grants help schools pay for essential upgrades to better ensure the security of our classrooms."
State Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) said this year the Indiana Department of Homeland Security provided more than $26 million in grants to nearly 500 schools and corporations.
"The General Assembly has been diligent about working with schools to assess their safety needs and provide funding to address them," said Thompson, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. "We know security is a top concern for educators and parents, and we'll continue supporting these efforts to ensure Hoosier students are safe."
Area schools receiving grants include:
- Lebanon Community School Corp., $86,000;
- Traders Point Christian Academy, $60,200;
- Western Boone County Community School District, $43,000; and
- Zionsville Community Schools, $86,000.
State Rep. Hunter Smith (R-Zionsville) said the matching grants can be used for a variety of safety measures, including hiring school resource officers, assessing site vulnerabilities, purchasing equipment and technology and implementing bullying prevention.
"School safety is not a one-time conversation," Smith said. "It requires ongoing attention, preparation and investment, and these grants give schools the resources to keep improving their safety plans year after year."
With this round of funding Indiana has invested more than $240 million in school safety since the program started.
In 2025, House Republicans passed legislation moving the Office of School Safety to IDHS, centralizing safety efforts and providing additional support and resources to schools. Visit in.gov/dhs/school-safety to learn more about state efforts to keep schools safe.
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State Rep. Becky Cash (R-Zionsville) represents House District 25,
which includes portions of Boone and Hendricks counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Hunter Smith (R-Zionsville) represents House District 24,
which includes portions of Boone and Hamilton counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) represents House District 28,
which includes portions of Boone, Hendricks and Montgomery counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
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