HARRISBURG – A number of school districts in the 35th Senatorial District were awarded Office of Safe School Targeted Grants through the Pennsylvania Department of Education to prevent and reduce violent incidents, according to Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr.
Equipment Grants were awarded to Conemaugh Valley School District ($19,250) in Cambria County and Dubois Area School District ($24,798) in Clearfield County.
These grants are intended to pay for security-related equipment including student, staff and visitor identification systems; metal detectors; protective lighting; surveillance equipment; special emergency communications equipment; electronic locksets; deadbolts and theft control devices; and training in the use of the security-related technology.
In addition, Program Grants were awarded to Greater Johnstown School District ($20,000) and Penn Cambria School District ($10,875) in Cambria County.
These grants are intended to promote an environment of greater productivity, safety and learning and enhance anti-violence efforts between schools and parents, local governments, law enforcement and community organizations.
Finally, School Resource Officer Grants and School Police Officer Grants were awarded to the following school districts to provide for the training and compensation of school police officers:
Blair County:
Claysburg-Kimmel SD 2018-19 – Year 1 $34,303.92
Cambria County:
Ferndale Borough PD 2018-19 – Year 1 $42,000
Greater Johnstown SD 2018-19 – Year 1 $60,000
Richland SD 2018-19 – Year 1 $59,998
Cambria Heights SD 2018-19 – Year 1 $40,000
Conemaugh Valley SD 2018-19 – Year 1 $40,000
Holy Name School 2018-19 – Year 1 $29,120
Adams Township PD 2017-18 – Year 2 $30,000
Northern Cambria SD 2017-18 – Year 2 $30,000
Central Cambria SD 2017-18 – Year 2 $20,000
Clearfield County:
Curwensville Area SD 2018-19 – Year 1 $60,000
Dubois Area SD 2018-19 – Year 1 $39,987
Philipsburg-Osceola Area SD 2018-19 – Year 1 $38,000
West Branch Area SD 2018-19 – Year 1 $40,000
“A safe and secure learning environment is vital for educating students,” said Langerholc. “I am happy that school districts in the 35th Senatorial District received funds to assist them in keeping students and teachers safe allowing them to focus on learning.”
The Office of Safe School Targeted Grants are a separate program from the new School Safety and Security Grant program created under Act 44 of 2018. Those grants are administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the deadline for application is October 12. For more information, please contact Senator Langerholc’s office at 717-787-5400.