Gloucester and Mathews were among 104 schools divisions and three regional education programs from across Virginia to receive funding from a total of $6 million in School Security Equipment Grants to protect students and teachers.

Gloucester will get $30,297 for Abingdon and Petsworth elementary schools and Gloucester High. Mathews will receive $7,440 for all three of its schools.

The grants will pay for video monitoring systems, metal detectors, classroom locks, electronic-access controls, visitor-identification systems, direct communications links between schools and law enforcement agencies, and other security upgrades in 545 schools and other instructional facilities, according to a release from the governor’s office.

The School Security Equipment Grants program was established by the 2013 General Assembly in the aftermath of the Dec. 14, 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. The criteria for making the awards—developed by the Virginia ...