Bianca, the district's grants lead, gave the board a detailed primer on federal Title funds and other grant programs that support district programs.

She explained the purpose and allowable uses of Title I (closing achievement gaps), Title II (professional development and instructional capacity), Title III (multilingual learners; this is the first year Rutland City qualified and the district's Title III allocation is roughly $15,000), and Title IV (student support and enrichment with specific set‑aside percentages and limits on hardware/software).

Bianca emphasized legal constraints that drive budgeting choices: the supplement‑not‑supplant rule (funds cannot replace what is required by law) and the need for schoolwide plans when a school's low‑socioeconomic percentage exceeds thresholds (Rutland City schools qualify for schoolwide treatment). She described equitable-services responsibilities to six qualified independent schools (four currently accessing services) and outlined carryover and reimbursement timing that can create implementation delays.

Bianca also identified other grants of note (Perkins, Stronger Connections competitive grant, anti‑tobacco, BEST) and cautioned the board on contingency planning: because Title allocations are not finalized until July and initial AOE estimates come earlier, the district must decide whether to move some functions to local funds to ensure continuity if federal funds drop.

Board members asked about coding and reporting; Bianca said positions and expenditures are coded for grant reporting and the business office can produce title‑specific reports. The administration said it would identify what roles would be localized in a scenario of grant reductions and return with options.