Grants to reduce use of exclusionary time-out rooms

South Hadley and Holyoke public schools and an Easthampton educational nonprofit recently landed grants from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to reduce or eliminate the use of exclusionary time-out rooms.

Holyoke will receive $100,000 and South Hadley and the New England Adolescent Research Institute Inc. in Easthampton will get about $75,000 each as part of the $1.5 million DESE handed out to schools, districts and educational collaboratives to reduce the time-out rooms where students are separated from their peers and learning activities, and to increase the amount of time that students spend learning with their peers.

The state aims to leverage federal funding to expand alternative behavioral supports and strategies for students, enable positive educational environments and improve communication and collaboration between schools, parents, and the community to establish holistic support systems.

Further, the grants will support grantees in establishing and empowering behavioral support teams within each school to assess, plan, and implement individualized interventions for students displaying challenging behaviors.

ServiceNet gets $10K boost for arts, technology program

NORTHAMPTON — ServiceNet has received a $10,000 grant from The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation to support the expansion of SkillBuilders Makerspace+, an innovative community-based day program for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD).

SkillBuilders Makerspace+ is an environment where people can explore their interests, learn new skills, and be involved in collaborative activities that enrich their lives. Through hands-on learning in modern art and technology studios, members engage their creative passions — including pottery, 3-D printing, painting and drawing, virtual reality, coding, and more — while sharpening their creative thinking and building confidence.

Since its launch last October, SkillBuilders has gained strong member interest and community support. The space currently includes two art studios, a Lego and model building room, a tech and gaming area, and a meditation/inspiration space with a Maker’s Lounge that serves as the community hub.

Hilltowns,Sunderland church land money forwater system work

BOSTON — The Hilltown Community Development Corp. in Chesterfield has been awarded a $60,000 grant for a project to modify its existing water treatment system to include a manganese removal system, nitrate removal system and a sediment filter. The project will include brine tanks for treatment and a new drain line and tight tank for water treatment waste.

Also, public water supplier Our Lady of Grace Church will get $150,000 to evaluate a PFAS treatment pilot program, design of the treatment system, prepare necessary permit applications, and install the approved treatment system at its Sunderland location.

The grants are two of more than $17.4 million that went to 21 public water suppliers to assist with long-term solutions that address and mitigate emerging contaminants in drinking water. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection selected 21 projects to help remove PFAS and manganese.