Three Pennsylvania Jewish Day Schools Receive Grants To Hire School Police Officer Thanks To OU Advocacy

20 Nov 2014

OU Advocacy, the non-partisan public policy arm of the Orthodox Union, congratulates Torah Academy of Greater Philadelphia, Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh and the Silver Academy in Harrisburg for receiving a School Police Officer Grant for the 2014-15 school year. Each school will receive $40,000 that they can use to hire a security officer.

OU Advocacy worked closely with Pennsylvania legislators to ensure that non-public schools would be included in the Safe School Legislation, which was passed in 2013. When a “hiccup” within the law precluding Jewish day schools and other non-public schools from participating in the Safe School grant program was discovered, OU Advocacy worked closely with State Senator Joe Scarnati to devise a solution that would give non-public schools access to the grant. The amendment to the Safe School Legislation was passed with bipartisan support and signed into law by Governor Tom Corbett in July.

“By passing the amendment to the Safe School Legislation, our state legislators sent a clear message that the safety and security of all of the Commonwealth’s students is paramount, regardless of where one goes to school,” said Karen Barall, Mid-Atlantic Director for OU Advocacy. “A safe environment is a key ingredient for helping students flourish and thrive.”

Read the full press release on the OU Advocacy website.