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DougCo to let schools decide what to do with $10M for school safety

The county in May approved spending $13.3 million to better protect schools following the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — Douglas County Commissioners now know how they’ll spend $10 million pledged toward school safety following the shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch. 

They’re going to let schools decide how to spend the money.

The Board of Douglas County Commissioners announced in May the re-appropriation of $10 million from their general fund toward public school safety and mental health services

RELATED: 'A guitar case with guns made it into the school': DougCo commissioners allocate $10M toward school safety

Later in the month, the board presented a proposal to the Douglas County School District that included adding about $3 million to bring on more School Resource Officers (SROs) but included a stipulation that the district and any participating private schools would have to match that $3 million.  

RELATED: Douglas County commissioners allocate $13.3 million to school safety

The remaining $10 million was for one-time funding for “physical entryway security technology and mental health services for children.” The commissioner's plan in May was to create two committees that would develop a strategy for using these funds. 

Instead, they decided the $10 million would be best spent giving schools what they think they need the most. 

School leaders will be able to submit applications starting Wednesday and they can make a variety of safety and mental health-related requests such as an anti-bullying program, additions to building security, safety training and culture assessments. 

Commissioners will be the ones making the final decision on which requests are approved. 

Funding requests are due by Sept. 17.

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