State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, announced Oct. 6 that $5.46 million in School Safety & Security Grant and School Mental Health Grant funds 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.

Northampton Area School District received a total of $368,938, $184,469 each for School Safety & Security Grant Award and School Mental Health Grant Award.

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 were 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 towards the programs: $95 million for School Safety & 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.