An interior shot of Butler Senior High School. The school district has received more than $1 million in grant funding to address environmental damage, and will direct those funds to three key projects, two of which are at the senior high school. Butler Eagle file photo

Two Butler County school districts — Butler Area School District and Knoch School District — have received grants from the commonwealth to address environmental damage.

Butler Area School District will receive $1,039,612, while Knoch School District will receive $78,190.

“We are extremely grateful for the state’s financial support in addressing long-standing environmental issues at two of our schools,” said Butler Area School District superintendent Brian White.

White said the grant funding will be used for renovation projects at Butler Senior and Butler Intermediate High School. These include replacing the floor at the senior high school’s auditorium, renovating one of the bathrooms at the senior high school and replacing cement panels in the intermediate high school.

“Some components of the cement paneling, as I understand it, contain asbestos,” White said. “These panels have exceeded their life expectancy and could pose future risks if not replaced.”

Regarding the bathrooms at the senior high, White said, “This restroom has experienced ongoing water issues and occasional backups, necessitating comprehensive repairs.”

He said the amount the school district received was 22% less than requested.

“(This) aligns with the consistent reductions seen across all approved applications from school districts statewide,” White said. “Given that we did not receive the full amount requested, we may need to adjust the scope of these projects to align with available funding. Nonetheless, we are committed to ensuring that these critical improvements are addressed for the safety and well-being of our students and staff.”

Butler and Knoch are just two of 109 school districts and charter schools in Pennsylvania to receive this grant funding, with awards totaling $7.9 million.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and state Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin announced the grant awards while visiting Antietam School District in Berks County on Monday, Sept. 9. The location of the visit was significant, as Berks County was hit by severe flooding last summer.

“My administration is committed to ensuring that Pennsylvania students have world-class school facilities that are safe and healthy so they can focus on learning and growing at school,” Shapiro said. “That’s why I’ve fought for and delivered environmental repair funding as one piece of an historic investment in public education through my first 18 months in office.”

An exterior shot of Butler Senior High School. The school district has received more than $1 million in grant funding to address environmental damage, and will direct those funds toward three key projects, two of which are at the senior high school. Butler Eagle file photo

An interior shot of Butler Senior High School. The school district has received over $1 million in grant funding to address environmental damage, and will direct those funds toward three key projects, two of which are at the senior high school. Butler Eagle file photo