Area career, tech education centers eligible for state aid

From staff reports

Clarion County Career Center and the Venango Technology Center are both in line to receive state aid, according to a news release from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office.

The Career Center could receive $53,558 and the Venango Technology Center could get $55,812 to assist implementation of health and safety plans as the schools move toward reopening, the release said.

Administrators must formally apply for the funding, according to the release.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorizes governors to determine the educational use of Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds.

Grants were calculated based on the allocation formula for federal Perkins CTC grants, which takes into account the population of students ages 5 to 17 and the percentage of poverty within the same age group.

In addition, the formula includes a factor to account for a local education agency’s overall student enrollment in career and technical education programs.

GEER funds can be used toward the safe reopening of schools in light of COVID-19.

This could include, but not limited to, purchasing protective equipment, hand sanitizer/cleaning products; equipment or technology to take classrooms online; installation of barriers or other protective devices in building structures; or to purchase health apps to assist in contact tracing and monitoring of students.