Watch CBS News

Federal Funding Made Available For School Security Post Sandy Hook

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Connecticut is making $5 million available immediately to cities and towns to help reimburse them for school safety and security upgrades following the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Gov. Dan Malloy announced the first round of funding on Friday for the competitive grant program included in the General Assembly's response to the Newtown shooting.

He appeared at Hartford's Classical Magnet School with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan for a town hall-style discussion about school security and education reform.

Federal Funding Made Available For School Security Post Sandy Hook

At least two more $5 million rounds are expected next year.

Duncan announced the federal government is providing the Newtown Public Schools $1.3 million to help recover from the Dec. 14 shooting.

Since the Newtown massacre, Sen. Richard Blumenthal has made it his business to visit numerous schools around Connecticut to check up on school safety measures.

He said he's been impressed with the upgrades he's seen.

"Better locks and alarms. More school resource officers and better training," he told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau. "Many of the schools are welcoming school resource officers, not just for the additional safety they bring but also for the mentoring and the role models they provide."

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.