Alabama congresswoman secures big bucks for school security improvements

WEST ALABAMA, Ala. (WBRC) - Good news parents! Multiple schools in Choctaw, Greene, Marengo, and Sumter counties are getting better school security thanks to a check from Congresswoman Terri Sewell. Sewell delivered a $1.2 million check Thursday afternoon to improve training, security, and knowledge at the schools. Officials say six public high schools in those counties will share the check.

The focus will be on providing training, education, and personnel so they can recognize and respond to threats. The University of Alabama will work with the University of West Alabama Regional In-service Education Center to make the improvements.

“I think much of the violence we see in our schools is because we haven’t taught our children how to do conflict resolutions that doesn’t involving fighting, and I am excited today because, while I don’t have children of my own, I have 100,000 children in my district that are my children and our children and I think it’s real important,” said Congresswoman Sewell of the 7th congressional district.

The training at the schools started this month. Congresswoman Sewell says the money came from the U.S. Department of Justice as part of its Stop School Violence program.

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