Rep. Parke Wentling announced on Apr. 15 that the Farrell Area School District and the Mercer County branch of Pennsylvania Court Appointed Special Advocates (PA CASA) have been awarded grant funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
The grants aim to support afterschool programming and youth advocacy in Mercer County. Farrell Area School District will receive $418,663 to launch Project COMPLETE, a K-12 out-of-school time initiative designed to create afterschool programs for students across the district. The Mercer County branch of PA CASA will share in $500,000 earmarked for multiple counties to strengthen their youth advocacy work.
“This funding will be a great help to Farrell Area School District as they look to increase and improve afterschool programs for K-12 students,” Wentling said. “Along with the funding going to Mercer County’s branch of PA CASA, these dollars will help children across the 7th Legislative District and ensure those who need the most help are supported.”
The funds come through two state initiatives: Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) and Building Opportunities through Out-of-School Time (BOOST). The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Committee approved 177 VIP and BOOST projects totaling more than $65 million statewide.
According to the official website, Wentling lives in Greenville with his wife Jennifer and their two children. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from California University of Pennsylvania as well as a master’s degree in education emphasizing instructional technology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania according to his official biography. Wentling holds several committee positions including Republican vice chairman of the Game and Fisheries Committee, Republican chair of subcommittees on Parks within Environmental Resources, Protection Committee, Townships within Local Government Committee according to his official website. He spent 17 years working as an educator in Wilmington Area School District as reported by his official site.
Supporters say these new grants could bring additional resources into local schools while also providing support services for vulnerable youth.
