1. What are the security services the district is spending on and how much are they?
A: Security spending has tripled since 2021, and rightfully so, as school shooting in Nashville and around the country have become more common.
The years 2019-2021, the district spent $2.6 million each years for security services
In 2022, it rose to $4 million.
2023 was $7.2 million
And so far in 2024, it’s already up to $7.8 million through Sept. 20 — triple what it was in 2021
The spending goes to anything from ADT security services to other alarms, to window coverings that the district started using, this clear, 'bullet-resistant or entry-resistant film' to locks, to cell phones, fencing, glass, canine training.
A large chunk is regular pay for security personnel – $1.4 million so far in 2024, was more than $2 million each of the last four years
Other new to 2024 large items include:
- $1.9 million for Solar Tint, clear, “bullet-resistant or entry-resistant film” on windows so a potential shooter can’t shoot them out and enter the school
- $4.3 million to security company System Integrations, Inc. a $3.4 million increase from 2023 – past years the spending there was between $21,000 and $855,000. For a brandished weapons detection system, using AI technology to detect guns.
- Almost $800,000 for ADT — a $740,000 increase from 2023 — past years the spending there was between $34,000 and $53,000. It pays for various building alarm and fire alarm maintenance, monitoring, installations, replacements
- $331,230 for IT company Beacon Technologies — a $283,000 increase from 2023 past years the spending there was between $9,000 and $85,000.It pays for various charges, primarily for cabling, IT drops, and Audio Enhancement technology for voice amplification and emergency alerts
MNPS Security Department has a K-9 unit working with the schools and that cost over $22,000 each in 2023 and so far in 2024 to use the dogs and pay for their care.
2. How does this compare to other school districts across the country?
A: America’s schools are increasing their security spending and specifically cybersecurity spending.
Collectively schools spend more than $2.5 billion each year on school resource officers and $12 billion on security guards, compared to $10 billion per year on school counselors, $4 billion on nurses, and about $2 billion on social workers, according to an Urban Institute report.
Schools spend more on security guards than any other type of school personnel, other than teachers.
Up until 2022, security personnel pay was a majority of the spending — now since then, add in things like an increase in construction costs in 2022 and 2203 for — various expenses, but primarily security vestibules, a barrier between outside visitors and the main entrance, providing an additional layer of security — and the budget has tripled.
I should mention that many schools aren’t using police officers in their schools – Metro schools has a security partnership with Metro Police, not only for training and to develop emergency plans but as school resource officers.