Board approves submission of Alliance and Family Resource Center grants totaling state multimillion-dollar allocation

MIDDLETOWN — At the September meeting the Board of Education voted to submit two state grant applications: the Family Resource Center (FRC) grant and the Alliance district grant, district finance staff said.

Natalie Forbes, the district’s executive director of finance, told the board the Family Resource Center grant application requests $111,363 and will support services at Farm Hill Elementary with a satellite site at 44 Hamlin Street (a YMCA community space) to serve families in the north end of Middletown following the McDonough relocation to Kegwin. Forbes explained a memorandum of understanding is in place with the YMCA and that partners such as Russell Library will host services in the downtown area.

Forbes said the state has allocated $11,531,952 to Middletown under the Alliance district program. The Alliance program, she explained, is a statutory investment targeted at districts identified for targeted improvement and requires a district plan approved by the state commissioner; funding supports four focus areas — talent, academics, climate and operations — and will be conditioned on submission and subsequent performance reporting.

Forbes also reported that the district’s current secured grant total is approximately $1,660,000, up from $1,140,000 at the same time last year. The board approved submitting both applications by roll call vote; the superintendent and finance director will finalize and transmit the applications to the Connecticut State Department of Education.

Ending: District staff said the Alliance funds require a district plan and annual amendments, and funding will be contingent on approved plans and demonstrated progress in the identified focus areas.