WAYNESBORO, VA (Rocktown Now) — Waynesboro Public Schools (WPS) has been awarded $65,520 through the Virginia Department of Education’s 2026-2027 School Security Equipment Grant Program to support security enhancements at Berkeley Glenn Elementary School and Westwood Hills Elementary School.

According to WPS officials, the School Security Equipment Grant Program is an annual competitive grant program offered by the Virginia Department of Education in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Established in 2013, the program provides school divisions across the Commonwealth with funding to purchase security equipment and make security-related building enhancements.

For the 2026-2027 grant cycle, school divisions were eligible to submit applications between July 1 and August 1, 2026. Waynesboro Public Schools’ application was developed and submitted through that annual process as part of the division’s ongoing school safety and security planning.

WPS has reportedly consistently pursued funding through the program to strengthen security across its schools. Since 2022, the division has received $561,332 through the annual School Security Equipment Grant Program, in addition to funding received through a separate special security equipment grant.

Annual awards over the last five years have included:

  • 2022: $197,204 for all seven WPS schools
  • 2023: $77,390 for William Perry Elementary and Kate Collins Middle School
  • 2024: $141,113 for Wenonah Elementary, Westwood Hills Elementary, Kate Collins Middle School, and Waynesboro High School
  • 2025: $80,105 for all WPS elementary schools and Kate Collins Middle School
  • 2026: $65,520 for Berkeley Glenn Elementary and Westwood Hills Elementary

“School safety requires ongoing attention, planning and investment,” said Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Cassell. “We are grateful for opportunities like the School Security Equipment Grant Program that allow us to continue strengthening our schools and supporting safe and welcoming learning environments for our students and staff.”

Statewide, the Virginia Department of Education received applications representing 770 schools from 124 of Virginia’s 132 school divisions, as well as seven regional centers and the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind. Grants were awarded competitively to 399 schools in 91 school divisions, totaling $12 million for the 2026-2027 grant cycle.

The School Security Equipment Grant Program has provided approximately $126 million in school security investments across Virginia since its establishment in 2013.