PIKE AND WAYNE, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Education has awarded school safety grants to four area school districts. The Delaware Valley and Wallenpaupack Area school districts in Pike County will each receive $40,000, Wayne County’s Wayne Highlands School District will receive $40,000 and Western Wayne School District will receive $39,990.

According to Rep. Mike Peiffer, the grants are specifically directed to enable school districts to place school resource officers or school police officers in their school buildings to further protect the student population.

The grant program was created as part of the 2013-14 state budget.