The Salem School Board voted July 29 to accept preliminary allocations for federal grants and to authorize expenditure and minimum-budget authority to enable fall program planning. Administration officials told the board that the state has begun releasing federal funds and that the district had received allocation letters for three grants: Title IV ($26,745.49), Adult Education and Literacy (Salem's estimated share $90,592.65) and Adult Diploma Title II (18+ students) ($12,600).

Assistant Superintendent Debbie Payne explained the packet: some grants are regionally allocated (adult education and literacy is run regionally with Derry), some allocations are estimates copied from FY25 pending final state awards, and the district requested board authorization to accept and spend the funds once formalized. The board approved the three named grants and also authorized a “minimum budget” to support planning this fall for other potential allocations (Title II, Title III and adult diploma for under-18 students). That minimum allocation totaled approximately $201,841 to allow program planning while the state finalizes awards.

Board members asked whether summer programs had been affected by the federal funding delay; administrators said the district ran a modest summer program and covered costs (under $6,000) from general funds to avoid canceling services. The board also discussed that if some grant allocations ultimately do not arrive, the district will cover shortfalls from general fund lines and adjust purchases as needed.

Two separate motions were approved 5-0: one to accept and authorize expenditure of the named grants with specific dollar amounts, and a second motion authorizing the minimum budgets for Title II ($92,945), Title III ($9,000) and adult diploma (under 18) ($20,842.13) so administrative planning could proceed.