Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District presents package of grant abstracts including $300,000 school-improvement award
Summary
District staff summarized multiple grant abstracts at the Oct. 20 Finance Committee meeting, including a $300,000 school improvement grant, Alliance District funding, bilingual education funding, family resource center competitive applications and two after‑school awards of about $153,000 per year.
District staff presented abstracts for a suite of state and competitive grants at the Oct. 20 Finance Committee meeting, describing how the awards would be used and the application requirements.
The presentations opened with a school‑improvement grant described by Foreman, a district staff member, who said, “So this is for our school improvement grant. It’s for $300,000. We’re going to use the money.” Foreman outlined planned uses: a portion of a climate‑and‑culture coordinator’s salary, a math intervention teacher for grades 7–8, academic tutors, incentives to address chronic absenteeism, additional writing supplies and field experiences for students.
The committee also heard from Miss Bonanno, a district staff member, about the Alliance District grant. Bonanno said the Alliance award this year will fund about 252 full‑time positions and that the district budgets roughly $25,000,000 of a roughly $28,000,000 allocation for salaries and health benefits. She explained the Alliance application process is annual, must be approved by the state before funds can be drawn down, and that activities must align with ESSA targets such as literacy, math and chronic absenteeism. “Our application needs to be approved before we can draw down any funding,” she said.
A bilingual education grant was described by Dr. Robles Bridal, a district staff member, who said the funding supplements core curriculum for mandated Spanish‑speaking students, paying for native‑language instructional materials, small‑group tutors and other supports. Dr. Joseph Lumpkin, a district staff member, presented a competitive Family Resource Center (FRC) grant that would fund centers at four schools — Barack Obama, Fairhaven, Hill Central and King Robinson — and provide early childhood services, after‑school programs, summer programming and family supports in those schools’ catchment areas.
District staff also described two state after‑school grant awards: roughly $153,000 per year for two years for programs serving the Fairhaven and King Robinson communities. Staff said those awards are intended to offer enrichment activities, including sports and arts, for neighborhood students regardless of the school they attend.
Why it matters: These grants fund classroom positions, tutoring, family supports and neighborhood programs that district officials said are targeted to state accountability goals and student needs. Several presenters emphasized that some funds require an approved state application before any spending can occur.
