138th District

State Rep. Zach Mako, R-183rd, recently announced more than $64,000 in Safe Schools Targeted Grants were awarded to Northampton Area and Northern Lehigh school districts.

The grant program, funded through the state budget, assists schools with paying for programs to prevent and reduce violent incidents in schools, purchase safety- and security-related equipment and provide for the training and compensation of school resource officers and school police officers.

“Keeping our children safe while in school must be a priority,” Mako said. “No student should worry about their well-being. Instead, they should be concentrating on learning all they can to prepare for their futures. I’m pleased to support this worthwhile grant program.”

Grants were awarded to:

Northampton Area School District (NASD) - $24,330 to purchase security-related equipment

NASD - $19,404 to establish and implement programs to prevent and reduce violent incidents

Northern Lehigh School District - $20,000 to establish and implement programs to prevent and reduce violent incidents

The Safe Schools Targeted Grant Program is separate from the new $60 million School Safety and Security Grant Program created by the Legislature this year and administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The 183rd District includes in Northampton County, Allen, Lehigh and Moore (parts) townships and North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport boroughs and, in Lehigh County, Whitehall (parts), South Whitehall (parts) and Washington townships and Slatington Borough in Lehigh County.