Area Legislators Announce School Safety Grants

HARRISBURG – School safety grants totaling $796,275 were awarded today to eight school districts in Lycoming County, according to area legislators.

School districts and other entities that will receive grants include:

• East Lycoming School District: $35,000.
• Jersey Shore Area School District: $40,000.
• Loyalsock Township School District: $35,000.
• Montgomery Area School District: $320,821.
• Montoursville Area School District: $35,000.
• Muncy School District: $30,000.
• South Williamsport Area School District: $255,454.
• Williamsport Area School District: $45,000.

Eligible uses for the grants include hiring school security officers, purchasing security-related technology, completing safety and security assessments, implementing violence prevention curricula, offering counseling services for students, and creating other programs to protect students.

The grants were awarded by the School Safety and Security Committee within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) as part of the School Safety and Security Grant Program, which was created by lawmakers in 2018.

“No parent, teacher or student should have to worry if they are going to get home safely from school each day,” Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) said. “Protecting our schools is paramount, and that is why I was happy to support the School Safety program, which was established by the legislature and particularly this grant funding.”

Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming/Union) noted that “secure schools for our children are a top priority and for the second year in a row we have been able to provide funding to our school districts expressly for increased school security.”

“I want to thank the committee for their hard work on this issue,” said Rep. Jeff Wheeland (R-Lycoming). “The School Safety and Security Grant Program is critical to ensuring our schools are as safe as possible. I am proud to support the funding for this program and am very pleased that every school district in Lycoming County received the help they need for their security enhancements.”

A total of approximately $53.7 million was awarded for 524 projects throughout the state in the current round of funding. PCCD received a total of 970 applications totaling $134.5 million for school safety projects in the current Fiscal Year.

In spite of the popularity and importance of the program, Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2020-21 budget proposed to cut $45 million from the program next year — a 75% reduction. Senate and House Republicans have made restoring this funding a top priority in budget negotiations.

Sen. Gene Yaw
23rd District
Pennsylvania Senate

Contact: Rita Zielonis
717.787.3280
SenatorGeneYaw.com

Rep. Jeff C. Wheeland
83rd District
Rep. Garth D. Everett
84th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Alison Basley
House Republican Communications
717.772.9843
abasley@pahousegop.com
RepWheeland.com
RepEverett.com

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