The Pennsylvania Department of Education has awarded $155,000 to Berks County schools to prevent and reduce violent incidents, to purchase safety and security-related equipment, and to provide for the training and compensation of school resource and police officers.
“Protecting our schools and safeguarding our children will always be a priority,” stated State Rep. Mark Rozzi.
State Rep. Tom Caltagirone said, “The grants announced help with the prevention and protection of our local schools by providing the funds needed to purchase the equipment and implement the programs needed to help keep our students safe.”
The following schools will receive funds awarded through the Education Department’s Office for Safe Schools, which offers four types of safety grants: equipment grants, program grants, School Police Officer (SPO) grants and School Resource Officer (SRO) grants:
- Antietam School District, Equipment Grant, $25,000
- Antietam School District, Program Grant, $20,000
- Brandywine Heights Area School District, Equipment Grant, $20,131
- Brandywine Heights Area School District, Program Grant, $20,000
- Muhlenberg School District, Equipment Grant, $25,000
- Muhlenberg School District, Program Grant, $20,000
- La Salle Academy, IU Non Public Equipment Grant, $25,000
- St. Ignatius Loyola Regional School Equipment Grant, $23,487
“We expect our students to focus on their studies – how can they do that if safety is a concern?” State Sen. Judy Schwank said. “This funding will help these schools provide a safer environment for their students and staff.”
For the full 2020-21 awards by school district, visit here.
More information about the types of grants awarded can be found on the program applications:
- School Police Officer
- School Resource Officer, Municipality
- School Resource Officer, School Entity
- Equipment Grant
- Program Grant School Resource Officer, Municipality-Police Department Application
