BELLEVILLE — The state recently provided almost $5 million in additional school safety grants to 67 districts throughout Wisconsin.

Belleville was the latest area district to receive grant funding for a total of nearly $78,000. 

Amounts were announced by Attorney General Brad Schimel for the second round of funding July 24. The grants are meant to focus on initiatives to improve the mental health of students, create local safety intervention teams and upgrade security infrastructure.  The next round of grants will be awarded in October, according to a release from the state Department of Justice. Staff of the DOJ met with groups like the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, the FBI, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, Chiefs of Police Association and Department of Public Instruction, as well as others, to consult on how to create the Office of School Safety and shape the grant process.

Albany, Argyle, Brodhead, Black Hawk, Pecatonica, Darlington, Monroe, Monticello, New Glarus, Juda and Evansville school districts have already received safety funding in the form of state grants.