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School committee accepts $148,075 competitive SEL/mental‑health grant; $48,575 for screener pilot
Summary
The Norwood School Committee approved acceptance of a competitive $148,075 grant to support social‑emotional learning, behavioral interventions and a district mental‑health screener pilot; the vote was recorded 4–0.
The Norwood School Committee voted Dec. 4 to accept a competitive grant of $148,075 to support social-emotional, behavioral, and mental-health initiatives across the district, including a district mental‑health screener pilot. The administration described allowable uses that include coaching, family engagement liaison support, behavior intervention staffing, and funding for training.
Dr. Munoz, a district administrator, said Norwood had applied for roughly $150,000 and the awarding agency reduced awards slightly because the grant pool was competitive: "this grant was so competitive we had to reduce people's spending and they reduced theirs by just a little over $1,000," he said. The administration noted that $48,575 of the award is designated for a pilot mental health screener; other dollars would support coaching, behavior interventions, family liaison work and staff compensation for after‑hours training when needed.
Committee members asked how the grant interacts with existing Coaching for Change contracts and shelter-related funding; administrators said some previously budgeted coaching work produced credits and that the grant complements other funding streams (Title 3/4, town shelter funding) while obliging the district to spend the competitive award by June 30, 2025.
A motion to approve the grant application and accept the funds passed by voice vote; the chair recorded the outcome as 4–0.
