Studies and after-action reports have all shown that one particular measure is highly effective and predictive of saving lives – the ability to lockdown a facility and secure classroom doors from the interior of the space. However, in today’s ever changing and evolving school security landscape, it can be difficult to properly advise and educate schools on how to best secure their facilities. Solutions abound, often with little evidence to support the measures being marketed. While this single solution seems intuitive and simple to accomplish, this is a complex endeavor to do so in a code compliant manner with vendors that are not versed in the latest recommendations for school security. Adding to the complexity of the project alone are funding challenges to completing the work. In this case study, we will explore one school’s quest to secure their school with appropriate mechanical and electronic locks throughout, including the perimeter, large gathering spaces, classrooms and gathering spaces while unifying and integrating their access control, intrusion detection system, and video monitoring and explore the creative ways in which they were able to obtain over $500,000 in grants to fully fund the project. This project was completed in 2022 and the school is now operating with a fully functional system, paid for in cash with outside funding, and the knowledge of knowing that they can initiate lockdown or other special case conditions instantaneously. After this talk, participants will be able to: 1. Identify hardware applications appropriate to the opening (primary, secondary, classroom) based upon extensive review of After Action Reports, the Federal Commission on School Safety, and CPTED principles. 2. Understand how to build relationships and get buy in from vendors and integrators to work with schools to secure grant funding. 3. Understand the grant process and how to help schools target and identify funding sources to accomplish security projects.