Area school districts awarded Safe Schools Grants
Eight school districts in the 32nd Senatorial District – including that serves Greene County – have been awarded just over $224,000 in state grants to fund programs, security-related equipment and personnel that address school safety and violence through Pennsylvania’s Safe Schools Initiative Targeted Grant program, according to Senator Pat Stefano (R-32).
Stefano said the program is funded by the Department of Education through Pennsylvania’s Safe Schools Initiative Targeted Grant program. Public school entities, nonpublic and private school entities, police agencies and municipalities may apply for funding.
Grants may be used for the training and compensation of school resource officers and school police officers and to fund programs or security-related equipment that address school safety and violence.
Intermediate Unit 1, which serves Greene, Fayette and Washington counties, was one of four school districts that received Safe Schools Equipment Grants. Funds will be used to assist schools in reducing unnecessary student disciplinary actions and promote a climate of greater productivity, safety and learning.
Intermediate Unit 1 received a $20,000 grant. Other school districts included: Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, $19,877; Uniontown Area School District, $19,825; and Rockwood Area School District, $14,640.
Six schools – none from Greene County – were awarded Safe Schools School Police/Resource Officer Grants totaling $150,000. The grants are for two years and are intended to be used for the training and compensation of school resource officers and school police officers.
“I am very pleased that many school districts in this area will have some additional help to ensure our teachers and children feel safe in their learning environments,” Stefano said, in a release recently released by his office. “Teachers cannot teach and children cannot learn in an environment where they don’t feel safe. The additional resources provided by these grants are crucial to improving school safety.”