Local districts get Safe Schools grants

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Three Mon Valley school districts received a boost for improving student safety Monday when the Pennsylvania Department of Education awarded approximately $300,000 to schools in the region through the Safe Schools Targeted Grant programs.

The Ringgold School District will receive a $20,000 program grant, a $25,000 equipment grant, a $40,000 school police grant and a $60,000 resource officer grant.

The Elizabeth Forward School District will receive a $60,000 school police/resource officer grant.

The grant program was expanded last year to provide school safety funding to non-public schools. As a result, Madonna Catholic Regional School in Monongahela was awarded nearly $10,000 for equipment to boost school safety.

The grants are designed to help schools get the training and resources they need to create a safe learning environment for students. They are also intended to support programs that promote an environment of greater productivity, safety and learning and enhance anti-violence efforts involving schools and parents, local governments, law enforcement and community organizations.

“Our people have been working hard to look for funding,” Ringgold School Board President William Stein said. “I’m so proud of them to try to capitalize on some of these things. This goes a long way to maintain safety in schools. Our people had gone out of their way to look for resources. Our primary goal is keeping our people safe.”

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