PERRY, Iowa [KCCI] — School officials in Perry announced Monday night that Perry Community School District was awarded funding from the state for school safety. The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management confirmed to KCCI that the district was awarded $50,000 for each of its three buildings — a total of $150,000.

This money is part of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ School Safety Improvement Program announced in 2022. The $75 million school safety improvement fund is coming from Iowa’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Joe Biden nearly three years ago. Each public and nonpublic school district in the state may apply for up to $50,000 per school building to make minor capital security improvements aligned with each building’s completed vulnerability assessment.

The money can be used to install things like locks, cameras, reinforced doors, and other security measures. The superintendent said now that they’ve been approved, their next step is to meet as a safety group and assess their needs. The school district has until 2024 to designate money for projects and 2025 to get work completed and seek reimbursement. School districts will be reimbursed with proof of completed work.