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District to apply for $258,000 in Achievement Integration funding; plan emphasizes early childhood and career/technical access
Summary
Winona Area Public Schools will submit an MDE achievement integration plan by March 15 seeking about $258,000 annually to expand preschool access, CTE staffing and other supports for historically underserved students.
The Winona Area Public School District will submit an achievement integration plan and budget to the Minnesota Department of Education by March 15 seeking approximately $258,000 in annual funding, Superintendent Brzezinski told the board.
The funding stream is available based on district student demographics; the superintendent said it will be split roughly 70% state aid and 30% local levy. The board packet listed priorities that align with the district’s comprehensive achievement goals: expanding professional development, additional career and technical education (CTE) staffing to increase middle- and high‑school access, an August kindergarten readiness camp, preschool scholarship slots for historically underserved families, a possible ninth‑grade readiness summer academy, credit-recovery staffing at the high school, expanded AVID coordination and resources for English language learners.
Brzezinski said district committees reviewed the proposed priorities: the APAC committee (a required reviewer for this funding) and the district DEI committee both provided input; district administrative leadership also contributed. He emphasized the funding must be used for new or expanded activities and cannot supplant current programs. The board will receive an annual report; the superintendent said the district expects to hear back on plan approval from MDE within several weeks after submission.
Board members asked how the priorities were developed and whether any items represent continuations of successful ESSER-funded programs. Brzezinski said some proposals build on past programming but must be “above and beyond” current services to qualify. The superintendent noted the district will tie reporting from this plan to its comprehensive achievement and civic readiness reporting cycle.
