HARRISBURG – October 18, 2019 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and state Representatives Perry Warren (D-31) and John Galloway (D-140) announced nearly $60,000 in grants will be awarded to schools in their districts through the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) Office for Safe Schools.
The PDE announced $7.2 million in Safe Schools Targeted Grants, awarded to schools to prevent and reduce violent incidents. The grants are used to purchase safety and security-related equipment, and grants can be used to fund training for staff and police officers.
Bucks County Technical High School will receive $25,000 for the purchase of equipment, while Council Rock School District and Pennsbury School District will receive $19,783 and $19,900, respectively, for school safety programs.
“With these grants, our children have a greater opportunity to learn and grow in a safe educational environment,” Sen. Santarsiero said. “Improving school safety has been, and will continue to be, a constant focus for me. No child, teacher, or staff member should have to go to school in fear.”
“Investment in schools is an investment in our future,” Rep. Warren said. “Anything we can do to protect our children and improve the safety of our schools remains one of my top priorities. These grants attempt to eliminate incidents before they happen, through training and the purchase of new equipment.”
“These funds will ensure that the students in our community can thrive in the safest setting possible,” Rep. Galloway said. “I’m confident that this will aid in creating not only a safer, but more productive learning environment.
The announcement came on the same day that Morrisville Free Library was awarded a $52,500 Keystone Grant to replace the slate roof on its 108-year-old building.
PDE’s Office for Safe Schools offers four types of safety grants: equipment grants of up to $25,000; program grants of up to $20,000; School Police Officer grants of up to $40,000; and School Resource Officer grants of up to $60,0000. Each grant is aimed to assist schools in reducing disciplinary actions and promoting an environment of greater productivity, safety and learning.
You can learn more about grants awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Office for Safe Schools by visiting the department’s webpage.
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