Area schools receive grants to increase security, support mental health

EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski announced that state funding has been awarded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to area schools to improve safety and support mental health programs for both students and staff.

Schools across the Keystone State, including some in our area, are receiving a major funding boost thanks to the PCCD’s School Safety Awards.

School security and mental health are the focus of the state grants.

Local schools are tightening up security and expanding mental health resources for students after receiving two separate grants.

The grants were awarded through applications, citing the need for improvements from districts.

The Hanover Area School District is just one of the schools on the list, the district received $166,310, and $40,000 is being awarded for security.

“So the physical safety piece of it is expanding our metal detection and any type of safety features within the building that could harden up the surface of our building,” said Nathan Barrett, Hanover Area School District Superintendent.

This means increased security inside the building, in the event, that outside security is breached.
$126,310 of the award is mandated for mental health resources. The district will bring in outside agencies for mental health training for counselors and educators, to implement new methods in the classroom for the benefit of teachers and students.

“We have mental health professionals in the building, and this type of award allows us to help pay for these services that would take the burden off the local taxpayer, but still provide the services for the student within the district,” Barrett added.

These services include educating students on understanding their emotions through meditation, and other techniques. Meanwhile, the Hazleton Area School District received a total of $296,289, with 45,000 set to go toward purchasing open-gate security devices.

“These open-gate systems, they check for any type of metal they check for any type of contraband coming into the school,” said Dr. Brian Uplinger, Superintendent of Hazleton Area School District.

Like weapons, vapes, or other prohibited items. Dr. Uplinger says the systems are especially useful because they are portable.

“We can utilize them at our stadium, we can utilize them at other buildings,” Dr. Uplinger continued.

$251,289 is mandated for mental health resources.

“We’re looking at implementing additional staff members with that money,” Dr. Uplinger stated.

Including more psychologists, counselors, and behavior specialists.

“Staff members such as that help to alleviate some of the issues we have across the district,” Dr. Uplinger added.

The Hazleton Area School District Career and Technical Center also received funding for mental health resources to benefit staff and students.

Feeling safe in school is essential for our future leaders to get the education they need. No child should have to go to school fearing for their life and no parent should have to worry about sending their child to school. This funding will go toward putting these children and their parent’s minds a little more at ease and I am proud to have helped secure this funding for that.”

State Respresentative Eddie Day Pashinski

The schools awarded grants include:

• Hazleton Area School District: $296,289
• Old Forge School District:$340,470
• Scranton School District: $718,902

Hazleton Area School District (HASD) is the largest in Luzerne County and the fastest growing in the state.

Officials say during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, a total of $155 million in federal and state school safety funding has been approved by the School Safety and Security Committee of PCCD.

A full list of grant awardees, public and nonpublic schools, statewide can be found on the PCCD website.

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