Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early Literacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves $41,000 in early-literacy book purchases for Parkside using remaining 35j grant funds
Summary
Rockford Public Schools trustees approved a request to spend $41,000 of remaining 35j grant funds to build an early-literacy collection and parent resource center at the Parkside Early Childhood Center.
The Rockford Public Schools Board approved a staff request to spend $41,000 from the district's remaining 35j state grant award to purchase early-literacy books and support materials for the Parkside Early Childhood Center library.
The spending aims to establish three library components at Parkside: an early-literacy collection, a tactile/interactive exploration area, and a parent resource center for families of the youngest learners at Parkside.
District staff member Ram told the board that Parkside now houses about 220 of the district's youngest learners and that the site lacked an established library. "I'm asking, for, $41,000 to, be used to purchase early literacy books for the library," Ram said. The proposed purchases would be completed before the end of the month so the district can meet the grant's expenditure deadline.
Ram said the 35j grant originally provided $1.1 million for the district and funded a districtwide Tier 1 CKLA science-of-reading curriculum, professional development and other literacy investments. He said the grant is sunsetting at the end of the month and that remaining funds must be spent by Sept. 30. Instructional coaches Mindy McGahn and Melissa Cockrill will select the final book list if the board approves the purchase.
Board members asked whether Parkside materials could be taken from other libraries or funded through donations. Ram said the remaining 35j funds were designated for early-literacy work and that the district had already reallocated and inspected other library materials through a district weeding process; the early-childhood collection needs board-approved purchases to meet age-appropriate needs. Ram said the DK classrooms housed at Parkside satisfy the grant's eligibility requirements for preschool materials.
The board moved and approved the $41,000 purchase. The motion was made and seconded in public and carried by voice vote. The district will return to the business office with a final book list from the instructional coaching team and process the purchases before the grant deadline.
Ending: With board approval, district staff said they will finalize a vendor list and purchase books and furniture in time to open the Parkside library for students this school year.
