Ensuring the safety of students, staff, and guests is a top priority for the Bethel-Tate Local School District. Continuously securing the necessary funds to fulfill this commitment involves an ongoing effort to seek and apply for grants.
In the recent year-plus alone, John Burns, Director of Operations, secured well over $300,000 in grant funds for the district. The bulk of the most recent rounds of successful grants are related to safety/security. Thanks to recent grants, Bethel Tate has:
Replaced outdated, two-way analog radios with new multi-channel digital radios.
Purchased additional communications radios.
Purchased/installed new repeaters and antennas to extend the signal reach for the radios.
Upgraded the two-way systems channels from 1 channel for the entire district to 8 channels.
Replaced antiquated building PA systems with new building communications systems.
Installed a panic button system that integrates with the PA system for each building.
Updated and expanded video surveillance capabilities via the installation of a new server with enhanced processing capabilities and greater video archiving storage capacity, plus the purchase of additional cameras.
Purchased/implemented new door barricade systems for all of the classrooms.
Purchased and installed impact-resistant glass film for all schools - currently found at main entrances and windows, with more to be installed thanks to additional grant dollars.
Participated in ongoing safety training.
"We've worked hard over the past decade to keep the district safe despite tight budgets. Grants have been crucial in funding these upgrades,” Mr. Burns said.
Researching and securing grants is time-consuming but makes a big difference in fulfilling needs that our budget can't cover, he said. For instance, our tech infrastructure is predominantly grant-funded. We're now seeking a grant to improve it further with backup power and a second internet connection, costing about $75,000.
“We're committed to seeking grants to meet our financial needs and keep our district safe and efficient,” Mr. Burns added.
After nearly a decade with Bethel-Tate Schools, Mr. Burns will retire at the end of the school year. He estimates that over the course of his 35-year career, he’s secured over $3 million of grant funding. As he prepares to leave, he’s confident Charles Napier, the new Director of Operations, will do an excellent job.