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Indiana schools have one more chance to get free metal dtectors

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Administration say Indiana schools have another chance to order state-funded hand-held metal detectors.

Schools that have not ordered the devices can do so by Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. They can send an email to info@k12indiana.com for ordering instructions.

READ | Hundreds of Indiana schools have requested free handheld metal detectors

The governor’s office says 3,231 metal detectors have been requested so far by 370 school entities, including 94 percent of all traditional public school corporations.

The program makes one metal detector available for every 250 students in a school building. So far the program has cost more than $330,000. It is funded by the Department of Administration.

Holcomb announced the program in July, weeks after a student opened fire at an Indianapolis-area middle school, wounding his teacher and another student.

READ | Indiana schools can now get free metal detectors | Dozens of Indiana schools have applied for free metal detectors

Indiana has taken other steps in the past year to give schools more resources for school safety, including the following in the 2018 legislative session:

  • Made $35 million in low-interest loans available to schools to increase school safety through the Indiana Common School Fund. Applications may be found on the Indiana Department of Homeland Security website.
  • Provided an additional $5 million to support school safety grants recently approved through IDHS. Those grants, more than $14 million in total, will be put to use for school resource officers, safety equipment and threat assessments.
  • Dedicated $1 million to support a full audit of school safety plans around the state.

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