JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley School District will get a $56,000 grant to pay for a second police officer on the secondary campus.

The grant was announced Friday by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The grant will pay for the school resource officer for one year. In the second year of the grant, the district would split the cost for the officer with the state.

Assistant Superintendent Matt McKinley said at the school board meeting Monday night that school officials are “thrilled” with the service from the current school officer, but added that the secondary campus is always growing.

“I definitely see a need to have two people here, especially if there’s a crisis situation on campus,” he said.

The school resource officer is Jackson Township officer Hunter Ryan.

McKinley said the new officer will serve at the district during the school year and would serve on normal patrol with Jackson Township police during the summer.

The district already has contracts with Cranberry Township, Evans City and Zelienople police for patrols at schools.

Superintendent Tracy Vitale praised her staff for going after the grant, saying it took hours and hours of research and writing to submit.

Also, the Freeport School District will receive $20,000 from the state to partially fund a school police officer for a second year. It received $40,000 last year.

Armstrong County schools, which includes Worthington, also will get $20,000 as a second-year grant.