South Fayette applies for Safe Schools Grant
The South Fayette Township School District is applying for a state Safe Schools Grant that, if awarded, would enable the district to have a full-time school resource officer on campus. The officer would be a South Fayette Township police officer.
Aaron Skrbin, assistant principal at the high school, presented information on the grant to the board of directors at a Nov. 19 meeting.
“The time seemed right,” to apply for the grant, Skrbin said, adding the grant has not been available for several years.
Skrbin said the maximum amount awarded would be about $60,000 the first year and then the grant would automatically renew for the next year in the amount of $30,000 with the district not needing to reapply. Skrbin recently met with South Fayette Township Chief of Police Louis Volle, Lieutenant Robert Kurta and South Fayette Manager Ryan Eggleston to discuss the grant.
“They were very much in favor of the program,” Skrbin said.
Although Skrbin said he’s “hopeful we will receive it,” the competition for the money is going to be tough.
If awarded, one South Fayette Township police officer would come to work each day at the school district. The officer would also have the ability to present programs in each of the buildings.
A benefit of having a resource officer is the “community relations” aspect, Skrbin said. “It’s good for the students to see them (the officer) as an ally,” he said, adding that if an issue arises, the officer would be able to assist immediately.
Skrbin said even if the district doesn’t receive the grant, it has already benefitted by having good dialogue with the township’s police department.
“As with any grant, you have to worry about sustainability,” said South Fayette Superintendent Dr. Bille Rondinelli after Skrbin’s presentation.
“On one hand, we want to apply for the grant,” Rondinelli said, because it shows the state that there is a need for the officer in South Fayette, “but, how do we sustain it after? We do have an excellent relationship with the police department. This is something that would enhance what we currently do.”
Skrbin said the district should be notified sometime in December if it received the grant.