Submitted Article
Three school districts represented by majority chairman of the House Children and Youth Committee, state Rep. Karen Boback (Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming), are among 234 districts statewide to be receiving school safety grants.
“The grants are the result of Act 44 of 2018, which dedicated funding to school districts, intermediate units, area vocational-technical schools, charter schools and private residential rehabilitation institutions for ensuring students’ safety,” Boback said. “I am pleased that these three school districts in my legislative area are among this year’s recipients.”
Grants will be distributed in the following amounts to these school districts – Lake-Lehman, $12,977; Northwest Area, $208,000; and Tunkhannock Area. $80,430.
Activities and items for which the grants can be used include the following:
- Performing school safety assessments
- Purchasing security-related technology and equipment
- Supporting school safety-related and behavioral-health training
- Preparing all-hazards plans
- Hiring school resource officers, school police officers, school counselors, social workers and school psychologists.
- Providing for trauma-informed approaches to education.
Last October, every Pennsylvania school district which applied was awarded a $25,000 grant to improve school safety. These new grants are being awarded on a competitive basis to schools seeking additional funding.
Questions about this or any legislative issues may be directed to Boback’s Dallas office at 570-675-6000 or her Tunkhannock office at 570-836-4772.