The Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District will receive $45,987 in grant funds from the Michigan State Police for facility security upgrades.

The state allotted $25 million in new grant dollars this year to help school districts purchase and implement new safety and security measures. Statewide, 114 public school districts, 42 non-public school districts, 22 public charter schools and 10 ISDs received grants.

Char-Em ISD’s Technology Director, Scott Hewitt, composed the grant request. Safety improvements will focus on the Patricia A. Taylor School for Exceptional Learners in Petoskey and Crooked Tree High School.  Projects will include access control systems, including adding buzzer entrances, and installation of reinforced safety doors at Crooked Tree. A new public announcement system (PA) will be installed at Taylor, as will film for windows at both buildings. The film is made by 3M and is virtually shatterproof. Door barricade devices will also be installed at both schools.

“This grant will help us provide extra layers of safety and serve to strengthen our already solid security measures at these locations,” said Jeff Crouse, Char-Em ISD Superintendent. “We are grateful to have been selected by the MSP for this grant award.”