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District warns of program reductions after federal grant delays; staff to shift digital literacy duties
Summary
Education services committee reported delayed Title I grants and cuts to Future Forward literacy funding; staff proposed consolidating K–5 digital literacy instruction under an existing teacher and noted Skyward migration progress.
School board trustees heard an education services committee update on July 7 that described delayed federal Title I funding, cuts to the Future Forward literacy grant and other at‑risk federal grants, and staff plans to maintain core instruction amid funding uncertainty.
Roxanne Phillips, identified in committee remarks as the director of teaching and learning, told trustees that the Title I application was delayed this year and that the district had not yet received allocations; she warned that without that information “it's difficult to do planning” for intervention services. The committee reported that the Future Forward grant — which funded literacy services at Grove and Howe — was cut, and that Title II‑A, Title III and Title IV funds were “in danger of being cut or redistributed.”
Committee members said the cuts could reduce reading and math intervention capacity and other supports for vulnerable students. The committee also discussed mental‑health funded curriculum resources and professional development; officials said Roxy will continue to update the board as grant status evolves.
On instructional technology, staff presented a K–12 scope-and‑sequence for information‑technology literacy standards and recommended assigning a current teacher to a rotating digital‑literacy role to deliver K–5 instruction because staffing levels do not yet meet state integration expectations. Phil (district technology staff) reported continuing progress on the Skyward student information migration and said graduation‑requirements tools will roll out in the fall.
Why it matters: delayed federal and other grant funding could force program reductions that affect interventions for struggling readers and other supports for vulnerable students, and staffing decisions now reflect those fiscal constraints.
Actions and next steps: the education services committee recommended approval of updated student academic standards (no changes from prior year) and recommended that staff contact Neola for policy corrections. The board received the committee report and approved the committee minutes. Staff said they will return with updates on funding and program implications as federal and state actions are clarified.
Ending: trustees asked staff to provide timely updates as grant application windows and allocations are resolved so the board can assess program sustainment and possible local funding replacements.
