Schools across the Heart of Virginia are updating their security equipment following grants allocated by Gov. Terry McAuliffe who awarded $6 million to protect students and teachers in 104 school divisions and three regional educational programs throughout the state.

According to a press release, the grants will pay for video monitoring systems, metal detectors, classroom locks, electronic-access controls, visitor-identification systems, direct communications links between schools and law enforcement agencies and other security upgrades in 545 schools and other instructional facilities.

Buckingham County Public Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Cecil Snead said the division received $18,640 in funding to purchase a new camera server, four camera upgrades and two communication base stations.

According to the release, the funds awarded were for Buckingham County High School and Buckingham County Middle School.

“Buckingham County Public Schools leadership continues to embrace supports for security by considering all reasonable funding avenues,” Snead said. “… We consistently perform safety audits and learned that our school community would be best served through these latest grant requests.”

Cumberland County Public Schools (CUCPS) was awarded $37,172 to be used throughout the division. According to CUCPS Assistant Division Superintendent of Finance and Operations Dr. Chip Jones, the funds will be used to upgrade handheld radios in each of the schools.

Prince Edward County Public Schools was awarded $44,495.

“The grant funds will purchase high-definition surveillance cameras and monitors for the high school and career technical education buildings,” said Jennifer

Kinne, the division’s family and community engagement liaison.

“School safety is imperative to providing an environment where students can learn, grow and thrive,” said McAuliffe in the release. “These grants will provide our school administrators with the resources they need to keep their students and teachers safe so they can concentrate on providing a world class education and preparing for success in the new Virginia economy.”

According to the release, The School Security Equipment Grants program was established by the 2013 General Assembly in the aftermath of the Dec. 14, 2012, mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

“The criteria for making the awards — developed by the Virginia Department of Education and the state Department of Criminal Justice Services — gives priority to schools most in need of modern security equipment, schools with relatively high numbers of offenses, schools with equipment needs identified by a school security audit, and schools in divisions least able to afford security upgrades,” officials said in the release.