Apollo-Ridge and Burrell school districts awarded nearly $50,000 for security equipment

The Pennsylvania Department of Education awarded a $25,000 Safe Schools Targeted Grant to the Apollo-Ridge School District and nearly $25,000 to the Burrell School District for security equipment.

Apollo-Ridge was among 39 school districts that did not receive other competitive grants from the Department of Education last fall.

Information on other schools receiving the grants is available at the state Department of Education’s web page.

“These vital funds will help our schools invest in equipment and technology to keep our children safe while in school,” said state Rep. Joe Petrarca, D-Washington Township. “It will complement the existing safety tools and resources they currently have in place.”

The grants can be used to purchase security-related equipment including: student, staff and visitor identification systems; metal detectors; protective lighting; special communications equipment; electronic locksets; deadbolts and theft control devices, and training for the security-related technology.

This funding is in addition to the $47.5 million in grants the state School Safety and Security Committee with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency announced earlier this month.