DVSD wins thousands for environmental upgrades

On Monday, Sept. 9, State Reps. Maureen Madden (D-115) and Tarah Probst (D-189) announced $1.1 million in state grants to make environmental repairs to area schools.

The funding awarded today includes:

• $754,886 to Pocono Mountain School District.

• $262,992 to Stroudsburg Area School District.

• $58,735 to Delaware Valley School District.

• $37,150 to East Stroudsburg Area School District.

The funding is part of the state’s Public Schools Environmental Repairs Program, which was allocated in the 2023-24 state budget. The new funding will be used by schools to repair and replace air conditioners and heaters, to remove asbestos and lead pipes, to fix roofs, among other improvements.

“These grants go above and beyond the dollars allocated for learning and will be used to make needed infrastructure and environmental repairs in local schools,” said Probst. “As a member of the House Education Committee, I was proud to vote for the 2024-25 state budget that is the first step in ensuring that we meet the court mandate to provide equitable funding to every school district in Pennsylvania. For too many years, the public-school districts in Monroe and Pike counties have been the most underfunded across the entire state, with local taxpayers footing the bill. House Democrats fought for the new funding formula and the new state budget is finally doing something about it. We also were able to secure $100 million to reimburse school districts for overpayments made to cyber charter schools.”