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How Green Bay Area Public Schools are keeping students safe this year

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GREEN BAY, Wis. — We're a week away from the first day of school for local students, and safety is a focus.

Green Bay Area Public Schools are using grant money awarded last year to upgrade their security.

It's part of the millions of dollars in school safety grants awarded by the Department of Justice to schools across the state.

Green Bay Area Public School District received more than $2 million according to the DOJ.

"Having the grant money allows us to, you know, improve things that we had wanted to do, but it was going to take a much longer time period to do it, so that we could budget for the funds," said Chris Collar, the safety and security coordinator for Green Bay Area Public Schools.

Improvements like adding radios across the district to help with communication.

Collar said more security camera have also been added to schools, and PA systems have been improved or added so schools can make announcements across the building and outside in case of an emergency.

"Another large part is we've added shatter resistant window films to entrances across the district," added Collar.

That film, he said, makes it more difficult for someone to get into the building which can give staff and students more time to evacuate if needed.

They've also used the money for training, especially in how to help students who have been in traumatic situations, and in ALICE training which is in case of an active shooter.

Collar said there's still more work to be done.

"The second round of the grant doesn't expire until August of next year, so there are some other trainings, and there are some other projects that we are still working on," added Collar.

He said, they are finishing the shatter resistant window films this year and plan to continue training next summer.