Atlanta Public Schools expects to receive about $2.6 million from the state to pay for safety upgrades at schools.
Gov. Brian Kemp proposed a one-time allotment of $30,000 per school while campaigning for office last fall. For APS, that adds up to about $2.6 million, which the district plans to spend on various safety measures on its priority list.
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The district wants to make entrances to some of its older schools more secure so it can more easily control who can get inside buildings.
The money may be used to support the school police department's body-worn camera program. The district purchased body cameras this year for its school resource officers, largely using federal grant funds.
APS also will look into additional investment in systems that allow students to report safety concerns, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said at a news conference Friday.
The district uses an anonymous reporting system that lets students report a concern through a website or mobile app. Carstarphen said the district receives information "every day" from the system, including reports of weapons and suspicious behavior.
“They do use it, and we get a lot of great tips,” she said.
APS is looking into communication upgrades to help its police officers connect with other law enforcement agencies and respond quickly during an emergency.
At a meeting Thursday, school board member Michelle Olympiadis suggested the district also consider investing in a system that would notify school officials if doors are propped open.
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