HARRISBURG – Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27), Rep. Robert Leadbeter (R-109) and Rep. Michael Stender (R-108) recently announced $74,000 in state funding has been awarded to two local school districts through PennDOT’s School Bus Safety Grant Program to help recruit and train new school bus drivers.
Bloomsburg Area School District received $44,000.
“Reliable transportation is essential to helping students get to school safely each day, and that starts with having qualified school bus drivers behind the wheel,” Culver said. “This grant will help Bloomsburg Area School District recruit and train new drivers while strengthening the safety and reliability families count on throughout the school year.”
“This welcome news is a result of a team effort between myself, Sen. Culver and our local partners in Columbia County,” Leadbeter said. “As an advocate for education and school choice, students must have safe, reliable transportation to get to and from the classroom. I am proud of our efforts to secure this funding because every child deserves the best education.”
Danville Area School District received $30,000.
“This grant will help Danville Area School District recruit and train qualified drivers while supporting the safe and reliable transportation students and families depend on each day,” Culver said. “Addressing the need for school bus drivers is an important part of making sure students can consistently get to school and participate fully in their education.”
“This is a great investment into Danville Area School District that will allow the district to train and hire new bus drivers, increasing the total number of qualified school bus drivers in the area,” Stender said. “This will improve school bus safety and ensure students have reliable transportation across the district.”
Grants from the School Bus Safety Grant Program may be used to pay for education, training and other costs associated with earning a commercial learner’s permit, commercial driver’s license or school bus endorsement, as well as other school bus safety initiatives. The awards are part of a $1.1 million statewide investment to train more than 430 new school bus drivers.
Culver also encouraged eligible schools to apply for the Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program, with applications being accepted July 27 through Aug. 7.
“Providing our students with quality facilities helps create an environment where they can focus on learning and preparing for the future,” Culver said. “While the application window is short, I encourage eligible schools throughout the 27th District to consider applying for this competitive funding opportunity.”
Funding may be used for projects including roof repairs, HVAC equipment, boilers, plumbing systems, energy-saving improvements and internet connectivity. Eligible applicants include public school districts and area career and technical schools.