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Platte County schools racing to spend remaining Weigel literacy grant funds under federal restrictions
Summary
District staff briefed the board on the Weigel literacy grant (minigrant $763,500 and a larger award reported as $1,032,560.82), explained federal spending allocations (15% early childhood, 40% K‑5, 40% 6‑12, 5% admin) and said the district still needs roughly $113,000 for early childhood and $163,000 for secondary before the deadline; staff said they are seeking state guidance and plan to hire interventionists and paraprofessionals.
District staff told the Platte County School Board they must allocate the remaining Weigel literacy grant funds in line with federal percentage requirements and that guidance changes have complicated planning.
The presenter told the board the district received a minigrant of $763,500 and a larger award recorded in the meeting as $1,032,560.82. The presenter stated the federal allocation guidance requires 15% of total grant funds be spent on early childhood, 40% on elementary (K‑5), 40% on secondary (grades 6‑12) and 5% on administration. The presenter said the district has met the elementary threshold but still needs to spend about $113,000 on early childhood and roughly $163,000 on secondary before the grant deadline.
Staff said past communications from grant coordinators have changed and that the district is seeking clarification: "We were told that the mini grant did not have to meet the 15/40/40/5, and then we were told it did," the presenter said, describing a shifting guidance timeline. Staff also noted federal supplanting rules restrict how the district can move other funding to meet the grant requirements.
To meet spending windows, the district said it plans to recruit interventionists for upper levels, paraprofessionals for early childhood (including positions referenced for Glendale and Libby sites) and to consult state grant coordinators for acceptable uses. Board members asked whether summer or virtual programming could be funded; staff said changes are allowable where the activity is new or above existing services and where it aligns with literacy goals.
A numeric note: the transcript included a total figure ($2,096,060.82) that does not equal the sum of $763,500 and $1,032,560.82; the correct sum of those two amounts is $1,796,060.82. The district presentation did not reconcile that discrepancy in the meeting and staff said they are seeking state guidance on allowable uses.
Next steps: staff will continue outreach to the state grant coordinators, post position openings to spend early childhood/secondary allocations, and return to the board with implementation plans.
