Plymouth-Canton Schools Planning Nearly $2M Security Upgrades

PLYMOUTH-CANTON, MI — Plymouth-Canton school officials said Friday the district is planning to use $1.8 million in state funds to upgrade security at all 25 buildings in the district.

"At Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, we are laser focused on the importance of helping ensure all students, teachers, staff and visitors are safe, and that means using resources innovatively, creatively and efficiently," Plymouth-Canton District Superintendent Monica Merritt said. "From our community partners and elected leaders to our board of education and teachers, staff, administrators and families, all of us at P-CCS have wrapped our arms around the goal of keeping our students and staff safe."

The district is planning to upgrade a wide range of new equipment and enhancements, including:

• Emergency call boxes for the area around Salem, Plymouth and Canton high schools
• Enhanced security measures at building entrances
• Protective glass
• Improved public address systems and mass notifications capabilities
• Visitor and emergency management software
• Two-way radio and communications equipment upgrades

The money was allocated to the district through the Michigan’s School Aid Fund for 2023. With 16,252 Plymouth-Canton students, the spending amounts to roughly $109-per-student, making the investment some of the most significant recent funding for safety and security in a Michigan school district.

"Our No. 1 priority is to help ensure every student is safe while they’re at school, in a place that is both welcoming and secure at the same time," Plymouth-Canton Director of School Safety and Security Josh Meier said. "With these funds – and the leadership of Superintendent Merritt and the Board of Education -- we’re going to enhance our security coverage in ways that can keep our students and staff safe while preserving our schools’ nurturing learning environment."