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WINTON – Hertford County Public Schools will receive $300,000 in state funding to enhance safety measures across all schools within the district.

The money comes through funding appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly to the Department of Public Instruction’s Center for Safer Schools.

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt approved HCPS’ application for the grant.

HCPS officials said the grant money will be used to procure essential school safety equipment, reinforcing the district’s commitment to providing a secure and protected environment for students, staff, and the entire school community.

“The safety and well-being of students, staff, and the entire school community are paramount to HCPS. These security enhancements will create a safe and conducive learning environment for all students and staff,” said HCPS Superintendent Dr. Jesse Pratt.

Pratt said the allocated funds will specifically be utilized for the acquisition of the following:

Centegix – Formerly known as Ident-A-Kid, this equipment will be placed at each of the eight HCPS locations to make the visitor management process the same throughout the district. Each Centegix station will have a dedicated computer, driver license scanner, and two printers (one for visitor stickers and one for tardy passes). This initiative will help school officials identify campus visitors who have or have not checked in at the front desk.

Access Control – HCPS will upgrade its access control systems (door access at all locations). This project will make access control uniform throughout the district and provide each staff member with an identification card as their “key” to enter a school building. Building access will be granted based on the staff member’s role in the district.

Bus Cameras – Implementing state-of-the-art surveillance on school buses to ensure the safety of students during transportation.

Radios for Schools and Buses – Enhancing communication capabilities within schools and buses, a critical component for effective emergency response and daily operations.

Metal Detectors – Additional security measures are introduced to safeguard school premises and events by adding metal detectors.

“Nothing is more important than making our schools safer and more secure, and these grants will continue to play a vital role,” stated State Superintendent Truitt. “This funding will help improve school security in many ways, including, updating technology and training to prevent future emergencies. I applaud state lawmakers for making this a priority and look forward to working with them to deliver more safety funding in the future.”