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Lewiston schools apply for roughly $502,600 in 20 First Century funds for four sites; district warns of sustainability requirements
Summary
District staff reported the Lewiston Public Schools submitted applications for four 20 First Century (after-school/summer) sites totaling $502,600 and explained the grant's sustainability model, including a required local contribution for transportation and a 3% year-over-year state funding reduction over a four-year cycle.
Lewiston Public Schools on April 7 told the school committee it has submitted applications for four 20 First Century after-school and summer program sites totaling $502,600, and staff explained the grant's multi-year cycle and local sustainability requirements.
"We are applying right now for 4 4 20 first century sites... The applications being submitted at this time total $502,600," District Federal Programs Coordinator Jenny Darigan said in a presentation alongside Gretchen Pleasant, the district's 20 First Century program director.
Nut graf: The 20 First Century program (a federal funding stream administered by states) is competitive; awardees enter four-year cycles with an expectation that local partners pay an increasing share of transportation and operational costs. The district said its planning assumes a required 35% local share of student transportation and a 3% decrease in annual state funding each year of the cycle.
Pleasant outlined program operations: after-school programming four days per week, two hours daily during the school year (no Wednesdays) and six-week summer programming offering four hours daily, with students receiving meals during program hours. She said Lewiston staff-run programs emphasize STEM, literacy, health and youth leadership, and that partners include Bates College volunteers, Fork Farms (hydroponic units) and 4-H.
Staff warned that the grant's sustainability model requires local contributions and that the district's ability to maintain summer programming depends on braiding multiple funding sources, including Title I reallocation funds and previous COVID-recovery funds. "If we receive the 20 First Century funds and we don't receive the Title I funds, we won't have a summer program, which means we're not going to meet our obligation for the 20 First Century grant," Pleasant told the committee.
Ending: The district said award notices are expected in June; if awarded, the period would cover July-to-June programming for the 2025–26 school year, and district leaders will return with implementation details and budget implications.
