Maple Heights superintendent: district has Title I and IDEA funds but awaits Titles II–IV; 21st Century grant approved for this year

Superintendent Dela Flora told the Maple Heights Board of Education the district has received Title I and IDEA federal funds but has not yet received Title II, Title III or Title IV money for the coming school year. Flora said notice from the Ohio Department of Education reversed an earlier denial of the 21st Century after-school grant for this year, meaning the district will be able to operate the 21st Century after-school programs at Obama and Milkovich for the year. The superintendent outlined several operational items ahead of the school year: a Music in the Park appearance and a community “fill the bus” school-supply drive on Aug. 5 at Stafford Park; a back-to-school rally on Aug. 16 at the high school from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; transition day for individual grade orientations on Aug. 18; and full attendance for all students on Aug. 19. Flora said freshmen will have pictures on transition day so the district can issue student IDs with barcodes. Flora explained the district will pilot an ID barcode check-in system at the high school, including scanning at lunch to reduce students skipping class. “We think it will help us with safety. We think it will help us with accountability,” Flora said. Flora also said staff are actively enrolling students and updating records ahead of the new year and that the district will share further updates as remaining federal funding decisions are finalized. No formal board action on funding was taken during the meeting; the superintendent’s report was informational.