Case Study: Huron City Schools (Ohio) — Security Window Film Installation

Huron City Schools in northern Ohio took a proactive approach to school security by funding its window film installation through Ohio's Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) grants — a dedicated state funding stream that school districts across the state should know about. With 12-mil safety reflective film from Avery Dennison, the district hardened all exterior entrances and ground-floor windows across its high school, middle school, and elementary school. This case study examines how one Ohio district leveraged state safety grants to implement a district-wide glass hardening strategy, including the product selection process, installation logistics, and the lessons learned for other SAVE grant-eligible districts.

Project Overview: Huron City Schools, Ohio

District context: Huron City Schools is located in Huron, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie, about 60 miles west of Cleveland. The district serves approximately 1,600 students across three main buildings: Huron High School, Huron Middle School, and Huron Elementary School.

Scope: All exterior entrances and ground-floor windows across all three school buildings.

Product: Avery Dennison R Silver 20i 12-mil safety reflective security film.

Installer: Solar Solutions Window Tinting, led by Rachel Schabroni.

Funding: Ohio Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) grants, a dedicated state grant program for Ohio school security improvements.

Timeline: Installation began in 2024, starting with the high school and subsequently extended to the middle and elementary schools.

The Decision: Why Security Film Over Alternatives

Superintendent Dr. James Tatman and the Huron City Schools administration evaluated the district's security vulnerabilities and identified ground-floor glass as a critical weak point. Standard annealed glass provides minimal resistance to forced entry — a single strike from a rock, bat, or hammer is enough to shatter a pane and gain access within seconds.

The district's options mirrored those considered by many Ohio schools:

• Laminated glass replacement — Permanent solution but expensive and disruptive. Would require removing and replacing every pane, creating months-long project timelines.
• Security bars/gates — Effective but problematic for schools. Creates a prison-like appearance, interferes with emergency egress, and can trap occupants during a fire.
• Security window film — Cost-effective retrofit that strengthens existing glass. Applied directly to the inside of existing windows. No structural modifications needed.

The district chose film for three reasons: SAVE grant eligibility, significantly lower cost than glass replacement, and the ability to install without disrupting classroom instruction.

"School safety is a top priority in Huron City Schools," said Dr. James Tatman, Superintendent of Huron City Schools. "Partnering with Avery Dennison and Solar Solutions Window Tinting has allowed us to enhance the safety and security of our school buildings with minimal disruption to our students and staff."

Why Avery Dennison R Silver 20i?

The district selected the Avery Dennison R Silver 20i — a 12-mil safety reflective film that provides both forced-entry protection and solar control benefits. The "20i" designation refers to the film's visible light transmission (VLT) of approximately 20%, giving the glass a reflective appearance that also provides daytime privacy.

Key product specifications:

• Thickness: 12 mil — a heavy-gauge security film that provides substantial forced-entry delay
• Safety backing: Designed to hold glass fragments together upon impact, preventing dangerous shards from becoming projectiles
• Solar control: Reflects significant solar heat, reducing cooling costs — a dual benefit for buildings with large glass areas
• Daytime privacy: The reflective finish creates a one-way mirror effect during daylight hours
• Scratch-resistant coating: Durable surface designed for high-traffic school environments

District-Wide Product Consistency

One notable decision in this project was the choice to use the same product across all buildings. Huron started with the high school and, after evaluating the results, extended the same specification — R Silver 20i 12-mil — to the middle school and elementary school. This district-wide consistency simplifies maintenance, provides uniform protection levels, and makes future expansion straightforward if additional buildings are added or renovated.

Funding Through Ohio SAVE Grants

Ohio's Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) grants are administered by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Between FY 2022–2024, Ohio allocated more than $100 million in SAVE funding for security improvements in K-12 schools. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis with priority given to projects that address identified security vulnerabilities.

Security window film is explicitly eligible under SAVE grant guidelines as a physical security upgrade. Eligible uses include:

• Security improvements to school buildings and grounds
• Hardening of entry points, including door and window reinforcement
• Security technology and equipment
• Training and safety drills

For Ohio school administrators: the SAVE grant program is one of the most direct funding pathways for security film in the state. Application windows typically open in the spring. The program covers a broad range of security enhancements, and window film — because of its relatively low cost and high impact — is an attractive candidate for grant funding.

The Installation: Three-Building Rollout

Solar Solutions Window Tinting, led by Rachel Schabroni, was selected as the installer. The company handled all three buildings, beginning with the high school and then rolling out the same specification to the middle and elementary schools. The project focused on exterior entrances and ground-floor windows — the most common entry points in school security incidents.

The phased approach allowed the district to:

• Evaluate the product in one building before committing to district-wide rollout
• Stagger installation across different school schedules to minimize disruption
• Coordinate with other security upgrades (e.g., door locks, access control) that were part of the same SAVE grant-funded initiative

"We worked closely with the district to ensure that installations occurred with minimal interruption to the school day," said Rachel Schabroni of Solar Solutions Window Tinting. "The 12-mil film requires careful handling and precision application, but the result is a level of security that gives the school community real peace of mind."

Ohio School Security Context

Ohio does not currently have a statewide mandate requiring security window film in public schools. However, the state's SAVE grant program has made it significantly easier for districts to fund glass hardening as part of comprehensive security upgrades. Districts that apply for SAVE funding should know that window film is well-aligned with the program's focus on entry-point hardening and physical security improvements.

Huron City Schools' proactive approach — identifying the vulnerability, choosing the right product, securing state funding, and executing a district-wide rollout — provides a replicable model for other Ohio districts.

Key Takeaways

• Huron City Schools installed Avery Dennison R Silver 20i 12-mil safety reflective film on all exterior entrances and ground-floor windows across three buildings
• The project was funded through Ohio's SAVE (Safety and Violence Education) grant program, demonstrating a clear funding pathway for Ohio districts
• Superintendent Dr. James Tatman drove the security initiative, prioritizing glass hardening as part of a comprehensive safety strategy
• The district started with the high school and expanded to middle and elementary schools using the same product for consistency
• Solar Solutions Window Tinting (Rachel Schabroni) handled the installation, which was designed for minimal disruption to school operations
• The 12-mil film provides both forced-entry protection and solar control benefits, offering a dual return on investment

Related Resources

• Real Schools: 10 Security Window Film Case Studies
• Are Security Window Films Required in Schools? 2026 State-by-State Guide
• Navigating 2026 School Safety Grants for Security Window Film — Including Ohio SAVE grants
• Campus Security: Strengthening School Glass with Window Film

Sources

1. FacilitiesNet — Huron City Schools Enhances Security with Safety Window Film
2. Avery Dennison — Safety Window Film Case Study: Huron City Schools