Last week, the Virginia Department of Education announced $12 million in school security equipment grants, of which Danville Public Schools received $249,999. The VDOE awarded the grants to schools most in need of modern security equipment, such as internal communication systems, mass notification systems, security card access systems, visitor ID badging systems, and other security enhancements.

Danville Public Schools plans to use its security grant to offset the cost of an integrated camera system. Currently, DPS has camera systems in each school that were placed by three different vendors. With an integrated system, the district can use one vendor and be able to see all schools at once through the same software.

This would allow for greater visibility for the DPS security team. In addition, the Danville Police Department would be able to have access to security camera footage from all schools.

“This grant will be vital in ensuring that we have a fully integrated camera system that will make it easier for us to have eyes on all schools,” Chief Operations Officer Wayne Lyle said. “Our security will be able to see every school from anywhere at any time.”