Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Grants And Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Grants coordinator outlines ESEA programs, stakeholder committee and delayed allocations
Summary
District grants coordinator Stephanie Lafreniere briefed the Somersworth School Board on federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act programs, the ESEA stakeholder committee and how delays in state allocations are disrupting summer planning.
Stephanie Lafreniere, the district’s grants coordinator, reviewed the district’s federal ESEA programs on Tuesday and urged the board and community to help families complete free‑and‑reduced lunch applications that determine Title I allocations.
“We get that money based on the free and reduced lunch and, like, food assistance programs,” Lafreniere said. She told the board that the district’s Title I allocation for the current year was $719,835 and that the funds have mostly supported intervention staffing concentrated in elementary grades.
Lafreniere explained the uses of Title II (professional development), Title III (English learner supports), Title IV (student wellness and technology) and IDEA allocations and noted private schools receive equitable services under federal rules. She also said the district has an ESEA stakeholder engagement committee and described it as ongoing: “It is a requirement of ESEA that we have the stakeholder meetings, and they do encourage having multiple meetings and kind of a back and forth, for that.”
Administrators said the state has delayed final allocations for several title programs, which is disrupting summer planning for teacher professional development and some summer services. “We don't have the allocations yet for all of our title programs. They've been delayed,” Lafreniere said; board members and administrators urged patience while emphasizing the practical impact on summer scheduling and staffing.
Lafreniere summarized other federal grants the district manages, including Perkins (career/technical equipment), safety grants for school security upgrades and IDEA funding (the district’s IDEA allocation was reported at about $459,000). She said the district will continue seeking competitive grants for things such as arts projects and mental health services.
The board asked about committee documentation and Lafreniere said meeting summaries, surveys and email exchanges will be shared and the committee will be reconstituted for continuing input. The board encouraged broader public outreach so parents and community members can take part.
