N. Schuylkill gets $25k school safety grant
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS – The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced today the recipients of more than $9 Million in competitive safe schools grants, and North Schuylkill was among them.
The grants, PDE says, are 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.”
“Although the learning environment has shifted for students, educators, and families, the importance of maintaining safe school communities has not changed,” Acting Education Secretary Noe Ortega said in a media release. “The Safe Schools Targeted Grant program provides schools with resources to create, support, and enhance programs that address the current needs of school communities, such as creating trauma-informed practices and developing equity and inclusion methods.”
The grants were split into four categories: equipment for up to $25,000; School Police Officer grants for up to $40,000; School Resource Officer grants for up to $60,000; and program grants for up to $20,000.
North Schuylkill was awarded a $24,941 equipment grant.
The district will purchase Motorola radios, Superintendent Dr. Robert Ackell tells the Sentinel, as well as a Door Access System.
“It will greatly benefit our district by allowing communications between North Schuylkill schools and staff at a much higher level than now,” Ackell said in an email. “Funding from this grant will also provide the opportunity for the district to track visitors into buildings with a date and time stamp and virtual keyboard. It will maximize our security and record keeping for visitors and staff within buildings.”
The two-way radios, he said, will improve the safety and security of all NS schools, and will enhance the district’s current use of two-way radios.
“Currently the district uses similar radios for the main office of each building to communicate with principals, maintenance personnel, and other administrators,” Ackell said. “Additional radios will be available for teachers to use on an as-needed basis including outside activities. Upgraded radios will be issued to all building and district offices to allow for multiple administrators to have access to communication with others throughout the campus.”
“Administrators in the North Schuylkill School District plan to have the Door Access System installed in our Jr./Sr. High School building first because of the high volume of traffic after school hours. We will then install in our elementary building to ensure security for both buildings within our district. All staff will be trained on procedures necessary when accessing both buildings,” Ackell added.
Statewide, $2 Million in equipment grants were awarded to 93 school districts.
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