Petersburg City Public Schools (PCPS) has announced the receipt of $198,240 from the Virginia Department of Education’s School Security Equipment Grant program.
According to PCPS, the grant will be used to fund safety improvements at Cool Spring, Lakemont, Pleasants Lane, Vernon Johns, and Petersburg High schools. Planned upgrades include new perimeter fencing, first-floor security window film, additional automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and a weapon detection system to enhance overall campus security.
The Virginia Department of Education has allocated $12 million in School Security Equipment Grants to 433 schools across 99 divisions as part of the Commonwealth’s ongoing commitment to student and school safety. Since fiscal year 2022, under Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration, $60 million in security infrastructure funding has supported 1,132 public schools statewide. Schools could receive up to $250,000 each based on a competitive evaluation prioritizing campuses with higher offense rates, identified equipment gaps, limited local resources, and results from school security audits.
Approved equipment includes interior and bus-mounted cameras, security vestibules, voice and video internal communication systems, mass notification systems, security card access and visitor ID badging systems, and two-way radios. The 433 schools were selected using a point-based ranking system developed by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Priority was given to schools most in need of modern security upgrades.
Petersburg City Public Schools serves approximately 4,400 students across nine schools with a staff of 672 and an annual budget of $70.5 million. The district aims to prepare students for the future through collaboration, communication, and innovation while focusing on transforming learning opportunities so every student graduates with diverse choices. PCPS is governed by a seven-member School Board elected to four-year terms responsible for setting policies and overseeing the budget. Superintendent Yolonda Brown leads the district.
