The Pandemic’s Impact on School Budgets
The United States confirmed its first COVID-19 case on January 21, 2020. Within two months, the WHO declared a global pandemic. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine closed all K-12 schools on March 16, 2020 — an action mirrored across the country. By March 21, more than 3.2 million unemployment claims had been filed nationwide.
Schools scrambled to implement distance-learning. Non-essential businesses shuttered. Tax revenue plummeted. Government budgets — including education funding — began contracting almost immediately.
In Ohio alone, Governor DeWine cut $475 million in school funding. Individual districts saw budget reductions approaching one million dollars. In previous years, shortfalls could be addressed through local levies. But with taxpayers unemployed, that lifeline disappeared.
Security Was Already Underfunded
School districts were already stretched thin before the pandemic. Rising utility costs, transportation expenses, personnel costs, special education mandates, and regulatory compliance consumed most operating budgets. Security — despite the escalating active shooter threat — was frequently treated as a line item to be deferred.
The FBI’s Active Shooter Reports document why deferral is dangerous:
- 2000–2019: 333 incidents, 2,851 casualties
- 2020: 40 incidents, 164 casualties (suppressed by pandemic closures)
- 2021: 61 incidents, 243 casualties (sharp rebound upon reopening)
- 2022: 50 incidents, 313 casualties
- 2023: 48 incidents, 244 casualties
- 2024: 24 incidents, 106 casualties
The mental health crisis accelerated by the pandemic — isolation, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation among school-age children — has only increased the urgency of school security. Students returned to buildings that were less funded, less staffed, and facing a population with elevated mental health risk factors.
The Post-Pandemic Recovery
Federal relief funding through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) provided temporary relief — approximately $190 billion across three rounds of funding. Much of it went to ventilation upgrades, technology for remote learning, and staffing. But ESSER funds expired in September 2024, and districts that used them for recurring expenses now face fiscal cliffs.
Security investments made with ESSER funds — School Resource Officers, access control systems, surveillance cameras — are at risk if districts cannot sustain them through local budgets.
"I was a police officer for 33 years. Around 2012-2013, my kids were still in school and the rise of active shooter incidents worried me."
— Bill Barna, Bolo Stick founder
Federal Grants for School Security
The FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides dedicated funding for physical security enhancements at schools, houses of worship, and nonprofit organizations. The program awarded $454 million in FY2024 and has $274.5 million available for FY2025. Eligible expenses include door hardening, access control, surveillance, and barricade devices.
CISA’s K-12 School Security Guide provides a framework for identifying security gaps and prioritizing improvements — useful for grant applications and budget justification.
Affordable Security Exists
Not every security measure requires a six-figure budget. The Bolo Stick door barricade costs $69 per unit, installs in five minutes, and requires no training, maintenance, or ongoing costs. For a 50-classroom school, complete door barricade coverage costs $3,450. That’s less than many districts spend on a single professional development workshop.
Restricting education funding restricts opportunity. But protecting students doesn’t have to wait for the next levy or the next federal relief package. Affordable, proven solutions exist now.
Protect your students without breaking the budget. Browse Bolo Stick products or contact us about bulk pricing for school districts.