Seneca Valley applies for four grants worth over $200,000
During their monthly meeting on Monday, Oct. 14, the Seneca Valley School Board voted to apply for four separate grants to assist with providing services and programs. If all are approved, they will provide the school district with a maximum of $243,615.07.
The bulk of the grant requests come from the School Security Personnel Costs Grant, which would cover the personnel costs of school security officers. Seneca Valley Foundation Director of Development Annie Mersing and district Safety and Security Director Jason Young are applying for a grant of $232,668.00.
The district is also applying for a 2024 Heroes and Helpers grant in the amount of $2,500, which will support the “Shop with a Cop” event held at Haine Middle School with the Cranberry Police Department.
Another $7,447.07 would come from the Living Laboratory and School Garden Grant, which would support a proposed school garden project at Haine.
“With this grant proposal, Haine Middle School plans to establish a school garden that includes an aquaponics system and hands-on activities focused on the study of ecological principles, agriculture, life cycles and nutrient cycles,” said district communications director Linda Andreassi. “Through these experiences, HMS students will not only develop practical skills and a deeper awareness of where food comes from, but also cultivate responsibility.”
Finally, Seneca Valley Intermediate High School teacher Michele Russo is applying for a $1,000 Holocaust Curriculum and LIGHT Center Development Grant, which will support Holocaust education programs at the school. This includes student trips to the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, along with the purchase of Holocaust-related novels such as Ruta Sepetys’ “Between Shades of Grey.”
“At Seneca Valley, we provide meaningful and comprehensive Holocaust education as part of the grade 10 curriculum,” Andreassi said. “These requests aim to strengthen Holocaust education for sophomores. This effort aligns with a broader commitment to combating hate and human rights violations, and not just in the English curriculum, but throughout our district's mission.”
