Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Feb. 10 more than $8 million in competitive Safe Schools targeted grants have been awarded to 166 schools in Pennsylvania to improve school safety.

Catasauqua Area School District was awarded $49,757.45.

Grants can be used to create safer school communities in a variety of ways, including purchasing safety equipment, implementing new programs and hiring security personnel and school resource officers.

“Every student in Pennsylvania deserves a safe learning environment, and these Safe Schools targeted grants will help schools all across the commonwealth invest in the resources and staff they need to keep students, teachers and staff safe,” Shapiro said. “Students should be able to focus on learning and growing in the classroom, and my administration will continue to work with our schools and local communities to ensure they have the support they deserve.”

The list of awardees can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office for Safe School website.

“Our educators and school administrators work tirelessly each day to ensure that students’ social, emotional and wellness needs are met, and this funding will further support the resources that schools have at their disposal,” Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin said in the release. “Providing comfortable learning environments that empower learners to achieve will ultimately lead them to infinite possibilities of success.”

Forty-three local education agencies received equipment or program grants totaling $1.94 million; 20 received funding to hire school police officers totaling $1.4 million; and 20 received grants to hire school resource officers totaling nearly $1.5 million.

Approximately $3.4 million was awarded to 83 nonpublic schools for equipment and programming.

Grants assist schools in reducing unnecessary student disciplinary actions and promoting an environment of greater productivity, safety and learning and enhancing anti-violence efforts between schools and parents, local governments, law enforcement and community organizations.

Shapiro believes in fostering educational systems where students can learn, grow and thrive in a safe and supportive environment.

For more information about his commitment to safe schools and communities, visit the governor’s website, governor.pa.gov.