The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation is getting into the school-shooting safety business.

Stephanie McCloud

The BWC announced this week that it has made more than $6 million in grants for school safety and security across the state since July 1. Schools receive up to $40,000 for safety and incident response equipment, in a 3-to-1 match with local school district funding.

BWC CEO Stephanie McCloud acknowledged that school shootings are not a major source of workplace injuries.

“But they are a significant and notable source,” McCloud said in a local news report. "And keeping teachers safe, I think that’s a public concern for all of us. Do we keep our teachers safe, do we keep our workers safe, and then ultimately, keeping children safe.”

Some 219 Ohio school districts and other schools have received the funding, the BWC said. A list of schools can be found here. School leaders interested in applying can learn more at the BWC website.

The money will be used for:

• Building/grounds/transportation security enhancements, including interior and exterior security doors and mechanisms. These include panic bars or other fire code-compliant locking mechanisms, bulletproof glass, bullet-resistant coating materials and secured keycard systems.
• Incident response equipment, such as equipment bags and backpacks stocked with trauma first-aid supplies; two-way communication devices and software designed to work with emergency responder radio systems; and school-wide panic button systems.
• Other workplace safety improvements.