Grants help fund school cameras
CHANNAHON -- Through joint efforts between the Minooka High School District and both Minooka and Channahon police departments, the district's two schools have new security camera systems.
Through two grants, the school has received $60,000 toward the purchase and expansion of two closed-circuit security camera systems.
The high school and Channahon police jointly turned in a grant application and were given $31,440 toward the system at the new high school in Channahon. The district also applied for a grant with Minooka police and received $27,402 toward the system at the central high school campus.
The money is from the U.S. Department of Justice's COPS Grant Program. The grants are matched by the school district to cover the price of the systems.
"Grant funding is getting more difficult to obtain," said Channahon Chief Joe Pena at a press conference held by the district and police departments Wednesday at Channahon Park District Arrowhead Center. "By going in as partners and to benefit more than one community, it helps our chances."
The goal of the security systems is to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for the students at both campuses, said Superintendent David Middleton.
The district had a consultant review both schools and advise officials on what was needed for security. The systems are already installed at both schools. This winter, school and police officials research how to expand the systems and access future equipment needs, Middleton said.
The high school kids are not only students, but community members, Middleton said, so it is important to not only establish partnerships between the district and police departments, but to continue working together.
Minooka Chief Doug Hayse said it was his and Village President Jason Briscoe's goal when he joined Minooka about a year ago to increase community partnerships.
Hayse said the existing equipment wasn't sufficient to aid the investigation of minor events at the central campus. The new system at the central campus replaces an older security system, which will still be used in the school's maintenance building.
"It's a great investigating tool, and as many students probably understand, a pretty good deterrent," Middleton said.
He said he hopes a student contemplating doing something wrong will think twice because of the cameras.
Briscoe said this is the third major project Minooka and Channahon have completed. The first was an water connection between the two communities; the most recent was a joint effort for a recreation grant for a canoe launch.
"This proves we accomplish much more together than we do individually," Briscoe said.
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