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$60M to be distributed to PA schools

Funding to be spent on enhanced school safety efforts

HARRISBURG –An additional $60 million will be distributed to 800 schools throughout the commonwealth to enhance school safety efforts in coming months.

Sens. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Wayne Langerholc (R-Bedford, Cambria and Clearfield), Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny, Westmoreland) and Mike Regan (R-Cumberland, York) held a conference with the Pennsylvania Newsmedia Association Wednesday afternoon to discuss efforts to enhance school safety throughout the state.

The senators said 500 public schools across Pennsylvania can each expect to receive a minimum of $25,000 for such provisions with the possibility to apply for more after the state completes a funding assessment of its 800 schools.

After that time, 300 other schools, including private schools, charter schools and intermediate schools, will also be able to apply for funding.

The funds are expected to be distributed after late March 2019.

Mental health support for students is a top priority when it comes to school safety, said Langerholc, who sits on the Pennsylvania School and Safety Committee, but funds could also be spent on threat reporting, monitoring systems, school safety assessments and mandatory trainings.

“There is no more pressing an issue at the present, especially since our schools are getting ready to head back in a couple weeks,” said Langerholc.

In his district, Langerholc said he reached out to school superintendents who agree that support for mental health is a top concern.

“I’m certain a decent amount of that money will go toward the mental health issue, at least in my district,” he said.

The senators agreed that the bipartisan efforts should be a permanent fixture in the budget moving forward.

“These conversations have been cycling through for a few years now,” said Brewster. “The funding is a concerted effort…we want to make sure when the next budget comes up…that what ever is in it supports the school districts needs and the needs of the commonwealth…It’s going to be a challenge.”

Regan noted that last year, less than one 10th of one percent of school funding was spent on school safety, at $8.53 million.

“It’s important that we continue to fund these programs that make our schools safe,” he said. “The mental health issue is something that keeps coming back…there’s got to be funding for school psychologists and more counseling…if the school district is left on its own, that will be something that is difficult to fund.”

Brewster said that school districts will be given the legislative authority to spend funds as needed within their districts, but stressed that some of the “most important” dollars will be spent in the area of mental health. “I think that’s where we can have the biggest impact.”

The bipartisan efforts to craft school safety measures also include a percentage of funding for community violence, said Costa.

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