Students in the halls of Farrell schools can attend class with a greater sense of security this year.

The state has awarded the school district a $40,000, one-year grant to improve school safety, Superintendent Richard Rubano told school directors Monday.

Lynne Powell, community outreach specialist for the district, said the money will be used in three main ways: Moving disruptive students into an alternative education program, teacher training and instituting security measures in the buildings.

"The grant is to ensure all students have the opportunity to learn in a safe environment that is free of violence, or the fear of violence," Ms. Powell said.

Placing disruptive students in an alternative education program "improves the climate of the classroom and it allows the disruptive students to meet their academic goals as well," Ms. Powell said.

The second facet of the program, she said, will be more training for teachers in the areas of conflict resolution and mediation, and drug and alcohol prevention.

About $6,000 will be used to buy equipment, such as security doors and cameras. Ms. Powell said she is working with Southwest Mercer County Regional police to get a second grant to buy more security systems, such as Web-based video cameras to monitor schools.

The $40,000 grant is an increase over last year, Ms. Powell said; for 2002-03, the district got about $12,200 from the state for the Safe Schools program. Farrell started its Safe Schools program in 1999.

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