Merrimack Valley board authorizes pursuit of $421,000 SAFE grant for security upgrades

The Merrimack Valley School Board on Dec. 1 authorized staff to pursue a SAFE grant of about $421,000 to fund school-safety improvements, including door access-control modules, upgraded public-address systems capable of focused real-time paging, and additional outdoor cameras.

Sam, the district finance/operations staff member, told the board the grant is a reimbursement award; the district would expend funds up front and seek reimbursement if awarded. Board members moved and approved a motion to pursue and accept the grant; the approval was by voice vote and recorded as passed.

Sam described the upgrades as covering three areas (access control, public-address emergency paging including focus paging, and exterior cameras) and said the grant would cover equipment and related work. He noted the nature of the grant is reimbursement-based and asked the board for motion and acceptance that evening.

Next steps: staff will finalize and submit the grant application and execute any required acceptance procedures if funds are awarded. Finance will track reimbursements and ensure accounting lines are updated.