Conklin announces nearly $77K in school safety grants
Rep. Scott Conklin November 16, 2020 | 4:13 PM
HARRISBURG, Nov. 16 – State Rep. Scott Conklin today announced approximately $76,879 in Safe Schools Targeted Grants earmarked for the State College Area School District and to three private schools in Centre County.
Conklin, D-Centre, said the grants, awarded by the state Department of Education, are aimed toward preventing and reducing violence incidents. The funds can also be used to purchase safety and security-related equipment and provide training and compensation of school resource and police officers.
“Our schools can – and should – be safe places to learn, and these funds are wise investments to ensure they remain safe environments for students, teachers and staff,” Conklin said.
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 $60,000. The grants are designed to help schools to:
- Reduce unnecessary student disciplinary actions and promote an environment of greater productivity, safety and learning.
- Enhance anti-violence efforts between schools and parents, local governments, law enforcement and community organizations.
A school police officer grant in the amount of $39,999 was awarded to the State College Area School District.
Equipment grants were awarded to the following schools:
- Nittany Christian School: $3,274.
- Saint Johns: $15,000.
- St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy: $18,606.
Note: this program is separate from the School Safety and Security Grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/fundinggrants/Pages/default.aspx.