The district hopes to be approved for a $195,000 grant application for security upgrades.
The Perkiomen Valley School Board will vote at its action meeting later this month to approve two grant-funded projects that look to improve the safety and security of students and faculty.
At its work session this week, the board moved two items to its consent agenda, one which will bring new AED units to school buildings and another in which the district will apply for a grant to upgrade camera software.
The first request is a grant-funded agreement between the district and Chester County Intermediate Unit to receive 14 new AED units and associated professional learning, at no cost. The grant funds were made available through the office of Sen. Katie Muth, in collaboration with Aidan’s Heart Foundation.
“This is an excellent opportunity,” said district Business Administrator Jim Weaver to the board. “The school district will apply for a grant through the Chester County IU, and the contract is up for approval.”
Weaver said the district will receive 14 modernized AEDs and training at no cost to the district.
The cost per AED is $2,000, Weaver said.
Each elementary school will receive an AED, three will go to the high school and the district office will receive a device.
“They are taking out the old AEDs. This is a total replacement,” Weaver said.
The Board later this month will also consider a request to approve a 2024-25 PCCD grant application for $190,233, to be used toward the purchase of camera software upgrades and additional cameras.
“This is a non-competitive grant,” Weaver said. “Last year, it was split between safety and mental health resources, and this year, we will move forward with a safety security camera backbone.”
Weaver said the district requested $215,000 for the grant last year, but they were ultimately rejected.
“I feel very fortunate about it,” Weaver said.
