Harkins, Merski: Nearly $1.4 million secured to bolster safety, mental health resources in Erie schools

Rep. Robert Merski    April 26, 2024 | 9:42 AM

ERIE, April 26 – New funding of nearly $1.4 million will be earmarked to improve safety, security, and mental health supports for students and staff at schools across Erie, state Reps. Pat Harkins and Bob Merski, both D-Erie, announced today.

“These additional grant dollars showcase our dedication to creating an environment where every student can learn without fear, and where mental health support is not a luxury, but a given,” Harkins said.

“This funding will enable us to equip our schools with the necessary tools to nurture a generation that is both academically accomplished and emotionally resilient,” Merski said. “These grants represent not just a monetary investment, but a profound commitment to the well-being and future of our children.”

More about the funding, which was awarded through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, is available here.

This most recent round of funding completes the $155 million school safety grants program package appropriated in the bipartisan 2023-24 state budget and issued by the School Safety and Security Committee in January 2024.

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