Watro, Argall Announce More Than $1.16 Million Awarded for School Safety, Mental Health

HARRISBURG - Rep. Dane Watro (R-116) and Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) on Friday announced four school districts serving southern Luzerne and northern Schuylkill counties will be awarded more than $1.16 million in School Safety and Mental Health Grants for physical security enhancements, behavioral health supports or both.

"Parents send their children to school trusting they will be safe, cared for and given every opportunity to succeed," Watro said. "These grants will help our school districts strengthen security and provide support for students facing mental health challenges. This is a meaningful investment in our children, teachers and communities."

"Every student and educator deserves to feel safe at school," said Argall. "I am pleased this highly competitive funding was awarded to our local schools."

The grants include:

• Hazleton Area School District - $663,802
• Mahanoy Area School District - $151,773
• North Schuylkill School District - $193,211
• Shenandoah Valley School District - $157,632

Each school district receives a base allocation of $100,000, plus additional funding calculated using its 2024-25 adjusted average daily membership.

Two other educational entities that are not school districts were approved for grants as well:

• Hazleton Area Career Center - $70,000
• Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 - $70,000

The noncompetitive School Safety and Mental Health Grants program is administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.