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Board approves new district grant manager position to centralize grant management and accounting
Summary
The school board approved a new grant manager position that administrators said will be funded primarily through indirect costs and grant budgets. Directors discussed salary range estimates, oversight and how the position would be paid; the motion passed 5–1.
The Faribault Public Schools School Board approved creation of a new grant manager position at its June 23 meeting. Administrators said the new full‑time equivalent role will centralize grant writing and grant accounting and be funded primarily from a combination of grant direct costs and recovered indirect costs.
Business staff explained that grants often carry indirect‑cost allowances that can be used to support district administration of grant programs. Finance staff estimated the available indirect‑cost funding for this position at roughly $80,000 (ballpark figure provided in the packet); administrators said some portions of the role could be funded directly from individual grants or indirect‑cost pools so the net impact on the general‑fund salary budget would be minimal.
The job description in the board packet enumerated core responsibilities: grant identification and writing, oversight of grant financial reporting and compliance, maintaining documentation for desk audits and reviews, and coordination with the business office. District leaders said the position would not eliminate existing internal controls: the controller and superintendent would retain oversight and multiple reviewers would continue to check grant accounting.
Board members asked about total cost to the district and whether benefits were included; staff said the exact salary and benefit package would depend on candidate qualifications but the indirect‑cost estimate gives a working ballpark. A board member asked whether the salary would be incentive‑based; staff said it would be a salaried position and that grant funding could support the role.
Board members praised the candidate’s (and the current grant lead’s) success in securing external funding and noted that centralized grant management can reduce compliance risk and increase revenue. After discussion, the board approved the new grant manager position; the vote was recorded as 5–1.
The business office will post the job, proceed with recruitment and return to the board with details once a hire is made and funding sources are finalized.
