by Mike Knaak
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Thanks to a one-time grant from the Minnesota Legislature, Sartell-St. Stephen schools will have money for a number of safety upgrades.
At the school board’s Nov. 6 work session, Joe Prom, director of Business Services, said the district will receive $135,000.
The money comes from $30 million that will be split among all Minnesota school districts based on enrollment.
Sartell-St. Stephen leaders plan to use the money to address a number of safety issues at schools. New security cameras will replace old technology at Oak Ridge and Pine Meadow schools. The money will also pay for a new visitor entry system now being rolled out across the district and for entry system upgrades.
The money had been approved on a contingent basis and depended on there being extra dollars available when the state closed the books on its budget year in June. In all, $63 million was freed up for school safety, a disaster response fund and bus service for riders with disabilities.