Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Thanks Senator Steve Daines for Supporting the Safe Schools Act

• Brian O'Leary
• June 09 2022

HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen understands the importance of school safety and thanks Senator Steve Daines for supporting the Safe Schools Act, which allows schools to utilize their Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds to improve the safety and security of students and staff. This bill would allow Montana schools more flexibility in spending their unused ESSER funds. Currently, Montana schools have used about 20.5% of the $0.6 billion in funding, which must be obligated by the end of 2024.

“I applaud Senator Daines for focusing on school safety flexibilities for our Montana schools in spending their federal COVID Relief dollars,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “My Montana Hope initiative focuses on promoting student mental health, which is directly related to providing a safe learning environment. I encourage our Montana schools to use these federal dollars to promote student safety.”

“We must secure our schools to help keep kids safe, and we should do so by using unspent COVID relief funds designated for schools to get it done,” Senator Steve Daines said. 

The Safe Schools Act would allow schools to use their ESSER funds on:

• Hiring and paying the salaries of qualified individuals, such as retired law enforcement officers or military veterans, to serve as armed school resource officers.
• Reinforcing or replacing classroom doors, locks, or window panels.
• Constructing fencing, bollards, planters, curbs, walls, or any other entry control measure to create a single point of entry to the campus.
• Acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency.
• An evidence-based strategy or program to prevent violence, which may include the use of appropriate technologies, including the placement and use of metal detectors and other deterrent measures and emergency notification and response technologies.

###