Freeman announces nearly $115K in state grants to aid in COVID safety mitigation
Rep. Robert L. Freeman August 7, 2020 | 1:14 PM
EASTON, Aug. 7-- State Rep. Robert Freeman announced today that $114,870 in federal funding has been allocated to two area schools in the Easton area to assist with implementing public health and safety plans.
The grants were awarded as follows:
- Colonial Intermediate Unit No. 20: $24,700.
- Easton Area School District: $90,170.
“Our students, staff and educators deserve to have the safest learning and working environments,” Freeman said. “To be effective in the ongoing pandemic mitigation efforts, our local districts need an investment like this so that they can resume operations and provide the educational opportunities that allow our children to reach their fullest potential.”
The funds can be used toward the safe reopening of schools, including the purchase of protective equipment, hand sanitizer and/or cleaning products; equipment or technology to take classrooms online; installation of barriers or other protective devices in building structures; or to purchase health apps to assist in contact tracing and monitoring of students.
According to Freeman, the grants are administered by the state Department of Education, with the federal funding based on both the shares of total enrollments by each postsecondary sector and the number of socioeconomically disadvantaged students served by institutions. The funding awards were calculated based on the allocation for federal Perkins CTC grants, which take into account the population of students aged 5-17 and the percent of poverty within the same age group.
More information about this grant program is available by contacting Freeman’s office at 610-253-5543
.