YOUNGSTOWN − On the heels of a mass shooting of Catholic schoolchildren at a Minneapolis church, Catholic Diocese of Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar has created a task force to address safety practices and policies for its schools within the six-county diocese.
Deacon Bill Bancroft, the diocesan director of safety services and a retiree from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, will co-chair the task force with Steven Jones, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Youngstown.
Twenty-one people, including 18 children, were wounded Aug. 27 during morning prayer at Annunciation Church. Two students, ages 8 and 10, died.
Bancroft and Jones will work directly with law enforcement and other first responders to make diocesan schools and churches as safe as possible.
In a letter to parents published Aug. 29, Bonnar noted that diocesan schools regularly engage in emergency drills for a variety of situations.
Last year, the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools initiated on-site safety inspections to make sure that best practices were being followed. Those inspections will commence again.
Later on this year, leaders from every school in the diocese will undergo training by the Ohio School Safety Center in preventative measures.
“Even with all that, we recognize that we must remain vigilant,” Bonnar wrote.
Gov. Mike DeWine’s office noted that the state offers several safety grants for houses of worship and school campuses.
“We’ve made it a priority in this administration to offer a broad range of public safety support to our local communities, and these programs are a perfect example of this commitment,” DeWine said in a news release. “Our schools and churches can never be too safe, and I encourage leaders to take advantage of these grant programs and the other free services that the state provides.”
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency began accepting applications Sept. 5 for its Ohio Security Grant program, which offers funding to nonprofit organizations, houses of worship, chartered nonpublic schools and licensed preschools. This fiscal year, $8.5 million is available. To date, the program has awarded $34 million in grant funding.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation also is accepting applications for its School Safety and Security Grant program. The program is open to eligible schools to purchase equipment to boost security and reduce or eliminate injuries or illnesses associated with educating children. Schools can receive up to $40,000 for each three-year eligibility cycle.
Also, the Ohio Department of Higher Education offers a Campus Security Support Grant program. A total of $4 million in funds will be awarded to sanctioned student organizations at colleges or universities as part of the state’s work to create safe campus environments.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Youngstown diocese launches safety task force in wake of Minneapolis mass shooting
Reporting by Canton Repository / The Repository
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