State Sen. Lisa M. Boscola, D-18th, announced Oct. 6 that $5.46 million in School Safety and Security Grant and School Mental Health Grant dollars were awarded to local educational agencies in the Lehigh Valley.

“It is so important that we invest in the safety of our children, both with security and mental health services. This is over $5 million in direct invest for our area schools. I am so proud we could make this happen,” Boscola said.

Catasauqua Area School District received a total of $248,458 - $124,229 each for the School Safety and Security Grant and the School Mental Health Grant.

The program was made possible by Act 44 of 2018, co-sponsored by Boscola, which established the School Safety and Security Committee within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Per Act 44, school districts, intermediate units, area vocational-technical schools, charter schools and private residential rehabilitation institutions were eligible to apply up to a maximum of $6 million to support one or more activities allowed by the statute. Activities and items allowed include performing school safety assessments; purchasing security-related technology and equipment; supporting school safety-related and behavioral health trainings; preparing all-hazards plans; hiring school resource officers, school police officers, school counselors, social workers and school psychologists; and providing for trauma-informed approaches to education.

“This program has been successful in helping our schools upgrade their physical security, and it was important that we spearhead that mission by also dedicating funds to mental health services for students as well. Thankfully, we’re able to make significant investments in that this budget cycle,” Boscola said.

Boscola supported enhanced funding for the program in this year’s budget through Act 55 of 2022. The act allocated a total of $190 million toward the programs: $95 million for School Safety and Security Grants and $95 million for School Mental Health Grants. The updates to the law expanded the scope to allow eligible entities to apply for funds to address mental health initiatives in addition to physical security enhancements.