Schools across the region have been awarded substantial grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to bolster safety and mental health services.
Richland and Somerset Area school districts emerged as the top recipients, with Richland receiving $601,067 and Somerset Area receiving $592,591. These funds, comprising formula-based meritorious awards, noncompetitive mental health funding, and competitive school safety grants, aim to enhance safety measures and address mental health needs within the school communities.
In Somerset, the allocation includes $35,000 for physical security upgrades and mental health support, $125,121 for school-based mental health services, and $432,470 for personnel, mental health initiatives, and safety enhancements. Similarly, Richland received $35,000 in meritorious funding, $118,966 for mental health services, and $447,101 for competitive awards.
Arnold Nadonley, Superintendent of Richland School District, expressed gratitude for the grants, emphasizing their importance in improving student and staff safety and reducing financial strain on local taxpayers. He highlighted plans to implement recommendations from the Pennsylvania State Police and sustain mental health support programs.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, chair of PCCD, underscored the significance of these resources in ensuring school safety and addressing mental health challenges. He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to providing necessary resources for schools to safeguard their facilities and support students’ mental well-being.
Across Cambria and Somerset counties, schools received a combined total of approximately $3.1 million in funding. Notable recipients include Blacklick Valley, Cambria Heights, Central Cambria, and Conemaugh Valley school districts in Cambria County, as well as Meyersdale Area, North Star, and Rockwood Area school districts in Somerset County.
These grants, totaling $47 million statewide, mark a significant investment in school safety and mental health initiatives, fulfilling a key component of the budget appropriations for the 2023-24 fiscal year.