HARRISBURG — A grant of $886,721 was awarded to schools throughout the Centre County region to help bolster safety and mental health resources. The funds were announced on Friday, April 26, by state Rep. Paul Takac, according to a press release.
The following organizations received funding: $231,714 to State College Area School District, $195,619 to Keystone Central School District, $174,432 to Bellefonte Area School District, $154,131 to Bald Eagle Area School District, $70,000 to Keystone Central CTC, $50,000 to St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy and $10,825 to Central Intermediate Unit 10.
The funding was awarded through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Established in 1978, PCCD’s mission is “to enhance the quality, coordination and planning within the criminal and juvenile justice systems, to facilitate the delivery of services to victims of crime and to increase the safety of communities,” according to its website.
The funding completes the school safety grants program package, which is a larger initiative of $155 million issued by the School Safety and Security Committee in January 2024. The committee was created within PCCD to assist in making schools a safer place within the commonwealth.
“In this era of unprecedented challenges, our commitment to the welfare of students and educators has never been stronger,” Takac said in the press release. “By prioritizing mental health and school safety, we are acknowledging the complex needs of our youth and dedicating ourselves to creating an environment where every child can thrive emotionally, socially and intellectually. Our message is clear, the safety and well-being of our students are paramount, and we will spare no expense to safeguard our future generations.”
