Pa. grants Mercer County kindergarten prep funds

Commissioners accepted the resignation of the county’s human services director.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County commissioners accepted a $19,132 state grant for a program that helps county children become ready for kindergarten.

The grant came from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Public Welfare. Only 24 of 40 applicants around the state were funded.

Fiscal Director John Logan said Thursday the original grant for this year’s program was $35,000 and that this is an addition. He lauded Frasier Zahnizer of the County Penn State Extension Office, who oversees the program. He said she has obtained funding for the program for six consecutive years, which is unusual.

He said grant funds are generally gradually withdrawn and the local community is expected to pick up the cost of the program.

Mercer County provides no money for the program, and the local match is provided by in-kind services such as work hours, from various groups.

The program seeks to develop a partnership between schools, families and communities in a school district in order to meet the school readiness needs of children up to age 8. The goal is to improve the chance children will be successful in school.

In related action, commissioners authorized spending $3,500 from the grant to pay Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, Denver, for presenting a workshop on kindergarten transition.

In related action, commissioners authorized spending $3,500 from the grant to pay Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, Denver, for presenting a workshop on kindergarten transition.

Commissioners accepted the resignation of Human Services Director Mary Ann Daniels effective Feb. 5. Daniels resigned to take another job, officials said. They will begin the search for a new director but first will give a pay scale rating to the job, which had been created in November.

They also reappointed Cornelia Sealand as farmer director and Fred Brenner as public director on the Mercer County Conservation District board for terms ending Dec. 31.