Harkins: State funding of $380,000 granted for school safety resources, community violence reduction

Rep. Patrick J. Harkins    February 26, 2020

ERIE, Feb. 26 – School and community safety will benefit from $380,000 in grants administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, state Rep. Pat Harkins, D-Erie, announced today.

Harkins said the funding under the School Safety and Security Grant Program will benefit the Erie City School District, the Iroquois School District and the Erie Community Violence Reduction Project.

“Ensuring the safety of our schools and reducing violence in our community go hand in hand,” Harkins said. “Kids need a safe learning environment, but they also need a safe, stable place to come home to in order to thrive. I’m encouraged that the funding announced today is going to help move us forward on both fronts.”

Harkins said the funding includes the following:

  • $300,000 to the City of Erie for the Community Violence Reduction Project.

  • $45,000 to Erie City School District for school safety and preparedness planning and the purchase of security-related technology.

  • $35,000 to Iroquois School District for school safety and emergency preparedness planning and the purchase of security-related equipment.

The School Safety and Security Grant Program is administered by PCCD’s School Safety and Security Committee, which is tasked with developing the criteria that schools must use in performing safety and security assessments.