West Chester, Pa (October 23, 2024) – The Downingtown Area School District will receive more than $1.1 million in state funding to replace windows at two elementary schools, state Senator Carolyn Comitta, state Rep. Christina Sappey, and state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten announced.
The funding, which comes through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program, was approved today by the Commonwealth Finance Authority:
The grants are as follows:
- $618,000 to replace 92 windows at Bradford Heights Elementary School. The school’s current sliding windows are inoperable due to corrosion and its double-hung windows have deteriorated perimeter gaskets that allow air infiltration. The new windows will provide energy savings, as well as health and safety benefits through improved air quality and easier, safer operation. The new windows also feature simpler locking mechanisms that enhance security.
- $550,000 to replace the windows at the East Ward Elementary School. The windows from the original 1964 building are energy inefficient and present safety risks. Meanwhile, the school’s 1996 addition has wood-clad windows, which have deteriorated to the point that they can no longer be locked. The proposed window replacement will improve air quality and enhance safety and security by featuring appropriate opening height and functional locking mechanisms.
In addition, the Downingtown Area School District was also awarded $40,000 in state funding to replace 29 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) that are beyond their recommended lifespan. The investment will help ensure that students, teachers, and staff in the district’s 16 school buildings have access to tools to respond to life-threatening health emergencies.
“These investments help ensure that our schools remain safe, healthy, and productive places for students to learn and teachers to teach. As a former public school educator, I know that families entrust our schools with the well-being of their children each day,” Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee, said. “These funds will save energy costs while enhancing security and ensuring we’re prepared to adequately respond to life-threatening cardiac emergencies.”
“I’m always happy when we can provide a win for everyone. These school district window projects are cost-saving investments that save taxpayer money, improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality. I’m also extremely pleased that Downingtown will be able to replace expired AED’s with this funding. I’m very proud of their work to prevent sudden cardiac arrest,” Sappey said.
“Investment in our school facilities is essential for the health and safety of students and staff,” Otten said. “This funding will help Downingtown Area School District address safety and energy loss concerns by replacing old, inefficient windows in two elementary school buildings. These grants will also potentially save lives, as a portion of the funds will help to pay for the replacement of 29 AED units districtwide that are beyond their recommended lifespan.”
The Pennsylvania Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program provides grants to public school districts and area career and technical schools for eligible facility improvement projects.
The program was funded with a $100 million allocation in this year’s state budget.
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