State Reps. Manning, VanNatter: State awards funding to local schools for safety upgrades

STATEHOUSE (Sept. 14, 2026) – Cass County schools recently received more than $150,000 from Indiana's Secured School Safety Grant Program, according to State Reps. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) and Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo).

Manning said the program, which was established through legislation the General Assembly passed in 2013, provides matching grants to school corporations, accredited non-public schools and charter schools to help pay for critical safety improvements.

"Indiana has made school safety a priority because our children should have the opportunity to learn in an environment where they feel secure," Manning said. "This investment helps communities turn that commitment into action."

VanNatter said this year the Indiana Department of Homeland Security provided more than $26 million in grants to nearly 500 schools and corporations.

"Protecting students starts with giving schools the resources to prepare for the unexpected," VanNatter said. "This funding supports practical improvements that can make a real difference in keeping students, teachers and staff safe."

Area schools receiving grants include: Lewis Cass Schools ($27,950), Logansport Community School Corp. ($86,000) and Pioneer Regional School Corp. ($36,980).

The matching grants can be used for a variety of safety measures, including hiring school resource officers, assessing site vulnerabilities, purchasing equipment and technology and implementing bullying prevention.

With this round of funding Indiana has invested more than $240 million in school safety since the program started.

In 2025, House Republicans passed legislation moving the Office of School Safety to IDHS, centralizing safety efforts and providing additional support and resources to schools. Visit in.gov/dhs/school-safety to learn more about state efforts to keep schools safe.

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State Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) represents House District 23,
which includes portions of Cass and Miami counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.

State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) represents House District 38,
which includes all of Carroll and Tipton counties, and
portions of Cass, Clinton, Howard and Tippecanoe counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.

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