Five school districts in western Westmoreland County will receive nearly $11 million of Pennsylvania's $2.5 billion of stimulus education funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress last year.

The districts are Hempfield Area, Jeannette City, Norwin, Penn-Trafford and Yough.

Of those, three in the 56th Legislative District will receive nearly $6.8 million in funding to be used over two years, said state Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-North Huntingdon. Norwin will get $2.96 million; Penn-Trafford, $2.33 million; and Jeannette City, $1.52 million.

"The federal stimulus money will help these districts to enhance services for special education and low-income students while preserving and improving educational offerings for all students," Rep. Casorio said.

Norwin will receive more than $847,000 to support its special education programs and $249,000 aimed at serving low-income students. More than $1.8 million will go toward basic education.

Penn-Trafford's funding includes nearly $688,000 for the district's special education programs and support for low-income students as well as $1.6 million for basic education.

Jeannette's funding includes more than $617,000 targeted toward efforts to support special education programs and to serve low-income students.

"Another $923,000 will support basic education," Mr. Casorio noted

In the 58th District, Hempfield Area and Yough Area will receive a combined total of more than $4 million.

Business manager Jude Abraham said Hempfield Area will receive $2.41 million, including $1.5 million to support basic education.

Yough Area will get $1.7 million in stimulus funds, according to business manager Michael Wrobleski.

"We're delighted that Hempfield and Yough are receiving much-needed federal economic stimulus funding," said state Rep. Ted Harhai, D-Monessen, whose legislative district includes Yough Area and part of Hempfield Area.

The Norwin school directors likely will appoint a varsity head football coach Monday night to succeed Dan Conwell, who was not rehired after five seasons.

"It's down to two finalists recommended for consideration by our athletic committee and school district administrators from among 45 applications," said board President Bob Perkins. "The board will interview both. Since we've advertised Monday night as a special meeting, the board could vote to hire a new coach."

Originally, Monday night was a scheduled nonvoting workshop session, with the vote to hire a new coach scheduled for Feb. 15.

"The board wants to hire a new coach as quickly as possible so he can resume the offseason conditioning and weight room program," Mr. Perkins said. "Coach Conwell handled that important part of our program until he resigned from that position in January.

"I prefer not to identify the finalists," Mr. Perkins added. "One is a member of the football staff of a Western Pennsylvania college while the other is among the leading high school coaches in this part of the state."

Mr. Conwell will continue as a guidance counselor at the high school.

The North Huntingdon commissioners are accepting letters from residents of the township's 3rd Ward, regardless of political affiliation, who are interested in serving the nearly two years of Republican Commissioner Fred Patter's unexpired term.

Anyone who has lived in the 3rd Ward for at least one year prior to the appointment is eligible. Applicants should submit a letter to the Township Commissioners, Town House, 11279 Center Highway, North Huntingdon, PA 15642. The deadline is 4 p.m. Feb 19.

Mr. Patter has not lived in the township since May and was deemed "unqualified" to represent the 3rd Ward by Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck. Mr. Patter submitted a letter of resignation last month, effective Sunday.

The commissioners are expected to consider action regarding the resignation this month. Once the resignation is officially accepted, the board will have 30 days to appoint a replacement to fill the term, which will expire Dec. 31, 2011.

With Mr. Patter's departure, three Republicans and three Democrats make up the board. Potentially, any vote on a replacement could end in a 3-3 tie.

Hartford Heights Fire Hall on Route 30 will be designated as an emergency disaster shelter for residents and fire departments of North Huntingdon and neighboring White Oak and North Versailles.

A $20,000 state Department of Community Development and Natural Resources grant, sponsored by state Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-North Huntingdon, will help the volunteer department buy a $46,000 commercial generator to use in the hall during a power outage.

"In the event that our station is needed to function as an emergency evacuation center, and power would be lost due to weather, terrorist attack or other disasters, this generator would provide back up power," Fire Chief Sean Oskin said.

A self-contained fuel tank will allow the generator to provide power for 36 to 48 hours, he said.

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