Antietam School District is set to receive a $7.8 million grant from the Shapiro administration as part of a broader initiative to address environmental hazards in schools across Pennsylvania. The funding, announced during a visit by Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, comes in response to last summer’s catastrophic flooding, which left Antietam Middle-Senior High School severely damaged and unusable.
This substantial grant is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) Environmental Repairs Grant program, a $75 million initiative aimed at helping schools eliminate environmental hazards such as lead, mold, and asbestos. A total of 109 school districts, career and technical education centers, and charter schools across the state will benefit from the grants, with Antietam School District receiving the maximum allocation of $7.8 million.
During his visit to the district, Governor Shapiro emphasized his administration’s commitment to providing students and educators with safe, healthy learning environments. “I promised to help our school districts provide safe, healthy places for our students to learn – and that’s why I’ve fought for and delivered environmental repair funding,”said Shapiro. “This is just one part of our historic investment in public education.”
The damage caused by last year’s flood created an unprecedented challenge for the Antietam community. With the new funding, the district will be able to begin vital repairs and construction at the former Antietam Middle-Senior High School site. Superintendent Tim Matlack expressed his gratitude, calling the funding “vital support” for the community. “These funds demonstrate the resolve of Governor Shapiro and our state representatives to reinforce our schools’ infrastructure and allow Pennsylvania’s youth to climb to greater heights,” Matlack said.
“Students can’t learn and educators can’t teach in unsafe, harmful environments, and the Shapiro Administration is committed to creating healthy learning spaces in schools across the Commonwealth,” said Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “This funding will enable schools to repair buildings and provide students and school staff with safe air to breathe, water to drink, and classrooms to learn in.”
State officials, including Senator Judy Schwank, joined the Governor during the visit. “It’s been a really tough year for this school district and for the community — this impacted everybody, so many people worked really hard to overcome an unprecedented situation,” said Schwank. “I want to thank Governor Shapiro and Secretary Mumin for their leadership and for not only being there for this school district, but for all districts across the state.”
Watch the full press conference here: berksweekly.app/live
In addition to the Environmental Repairs Grant, Antietam School District will also benefit from new investments in the state’s 2024-25 budget. The district is set to receive $1.4 million more in funding than the previous year, a nearly 20 percent increase. These funds, which will be distributed through a new adequacy formula, aim to support schools in need of additional resources.
Tara Halvorson, an art teacher at Antietam School District, shared the emotional journey the community has faced since the devastating flood in July 2023, which destroyed the middle-senior high school. “It’s a good thing we’re the Mountaineers because the past 14 months have been quite the treacherous climb,” she said, reflecting on the loss of the building that housed grades seven through twelve, including her own art studio.
Halvorson described the heartache felt by students, staff, and graduates, but also expressed gratitude for the spaces provided by local schools and churches during the challenging 2023-2024 school year. She emphasized the significance of moving into the newly repurposed high school on 25th Street, the former Mount Penn high school building, where many students’ parents and grandparents had also graduated. “Walking into our new Antietam High School was truly an emotional experience,” she said, as it now offers a dedicated space for students to create new memories and celebrate their achievements.
Governor Shapiro’s broader education budget also includes $1.1 billion in increased funding for K-12 education, alongside targeted initiatives such as increased special education funding, career and technical education expansion, and mental health and safety resources for schools. Shapiro’s administration is focused on not only repairing schools like Antietam but also ensuring that all Pennsylvania students have access to high-quality, safe educational facilities.
In addition to Antietam School District, several other local school districts in Berks County will also receive funding through the Environmental Repairs Grant program. Exeter Township School District will receive $219,878, Governor Mifflin School District $382,829, Kutztown Area School District $63,136, Muhlenberg School District $7,831,350, and Reading School District $1,893,346. These grants will enable the schools to address pressing environmental concerns and ensure safer, healthier learning environments for students and staff across the county.
