NILES — Niles Community Schools announced Tuesday it was awarded $442,773 in funding from the Michigan State Police Competitive School Safety Grant Program. It will allow NCS to install an advanced security camera system in the district.

The grant was applied for to continue the district’s commitment to safety, district officials said. It adds to the security improvements introduced as part of the school’s 2015 bond initiative.

The new monitoring system, which officials estimate will be installed by June 1, 2020, is meant to allow local agencies — like fire departments, police departments and other emergency dispatch responders — to share resources and reduce delays in crisis response time. The district hopes to complete the project sooner than target deadline, but its progress is dependent on installation contracts and the availability of technology and labor.

Upon selecting a vendor, cabling will be installed this summer with work continuing during breaks in the school year. Once cameras are installed throughout the district, the district officials hope there will be 24/7 monitoring and inside coverage of corridors, exits and building exteriors to maximize student safety.

The district plans to have personnel dedicated to monitoring the system, with the local police department having access to the system only as needed.

Security cameras allow for higher quality coverage and precise recording times, which is crucial if an incident were to occur, said officials.

“We are grateful to the Michigan State Police for recognizing the need within our district to utilize technology in monitoring the safety of our students,” said Dan Applegate, superintendent of Niles Community Schools. “The new security system will allow for dependable communication throughout the community in potential crises. While we are confident that this system will improve safety measures in our schools, it’s important to remember that the safety of our staff and students is a community-wide effort.”

The Michigan State Police granted $25 million in funding to 135 public school districts, 66 non-public schools, 20 public charter schools and nine intermediate school districts/regional educational service agencies who applied to the 2019 Competitive School Safety Grant Program. The funding is intended to go toward improving the safety and security of students, staff and school buildings through the purchase of technology and equipment. As part of the grant application process, the district agreed to a 25 percent match of the funds provided. The matching funds will come from the district’s existing capital improvement account, which was established to address various needs of the district, including student safety.