The state is giving Burrell School District more than half a million dollars to replace the “antiquated” security systems at Bon Air Elementary School and boost the mental health and physical safety of students.

Of Westmoreland County’s school districts, Burrell received the most funding.

Superintendent Shannon Wagner said state police’s Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Team previously conducted a security assessment of district buildings.

“That assessment identified upgrades that need to occur,” she said. “It’s upgrading all these things so they’re with today’s technology.”

Bon Air’s cameras, for example, were installed in the early 2010s.

“The system is antiquated,” Wagner said.

Wagner said the district sought the funding to upgrade items such as security cameras, access controls, guest management and environmental sensors.

The money comes from the state’s Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Burrell’s total award from the PCCD topped $582,000 — with the competitive grant for Bon Air improvements at $425,600, just under $121,500 to be used for mental health and $35,000 allocated for physical safety and security.

The funding comes from the $155 million school safety grant program package in the 2023-24 state budget and is issued by the School Safety and Security Committee.

Burrell High School and Charles A. Huston Middle School also will undergo similar safety improvements using district funds, Wagner said.

The district will use the $35,000 allocated for physical security and safety to support a portion of the cost for the armed security guard at Bon Air, she said.

The $121,481 allocated for mental health will cover the salaries of two prevention specialists and a portion of the costs for a third, Wagner said.

Burrell has four prevention specialists, one at each district building.

“Through a trauma-informed lens, the prevention specialists provide proactive and positive behavior interventions and apply restorative strategies to keep students engaged in school and the learning process to reduce negative behaviors that serve as barriers to learning,” Wagner said.

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