Burrillville council endorses town application for after-school math grant

The Burrillville Town Council voted Wednesday to endorse a town application for an after-school math program referred to in the meeting as the "Learn 365 and Math Matters" grant.

Julie Mayhew, identified in meeting materials as director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for the Burrillville School Department, was listed as the requestor for council approval of the town-led application. Council members said the program continues a multiyear effort and supports off-school learning activities tied to robotics and career-technical education.

Councilors discussed that the grant is administered to the town even though school staff run or participate in the after-school activities. One councilor noted the program is not a school-day activity but rather an out-of-school learning effort, and another said the grant had helped support robotics and related real-world experience for students.

The council discussed partnership opportunities that allowed robotics students to get experience at local facilities, and members praised those connections as helping students meet required "real world hours" for career-technical pathways.

A motion to approve the application passed by voice vote; the meeting record shows a motion and a second and the council answered in favor. Councilors said state timelines required prompt submission and that this application represents continuation or a smaller-scale follow-on to prior years' funding. The council did not specify the exact grant amount in the public discussion.