North Ridgeville schools report small drop in federal funding; Title I supports Liberty Elementary

Jackie Vance, the district official responsible for federal grants, told the North Ridgeville City Schools Board of Education on Feb. 3 that the district's four principal federal funding streams showed a small overall decline compared with the 20242D25 school year.

"The 4 federal funding, types that I report out to you is our Title I, Title II-A, Title IV and IDEA Part B," Vance said. She said Title I dollars are distributed based on the number of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches and are used primarily for salaries and benefits for Title I teachers at Liberty Elementary School. "The money is used specifically to improve basic programming," she said.

Vance said Title II-A funding supports effective instruction and is commonly used for professional development, consultants and workshops, and that the district also applies some of those dollars to staff salaries and training. "We support students to encourage academic enrichment opportunities," she said of Title IV funds, which the district has used to expand STEM and STEAM offerings and must reserve 15% for technology-related uses. Vance reported modest decreases from the prior year in Title II-A and Title IV allocations and a slight overall decrease across the K2D12 IDEA Part B special-education allocation, which the district uses to pay intervention specialists' salaries and benefits.

Vance noted one exception: IDEA Part B funds for early childhood programming (preschool) were slightly higher this year; those dollars help pay paraprofessionals working in the district preschool. She said the overall declines were anticipated based on federal reports.

The board asked clarifying questions about which school year the comparisons covered and about whether families are completing free/reduced applications. Vance confirmed the figures were for the current 20252D26 school year compared with 20242D25, explained that previously filed applications often "roll over" and that families should submit forms before the last day of school to ensure fee and meal benefits carry forward, and said forms are available on the food services page of the PACE schools portal and as hard copies in school offices.

The board did not take formal action on the funding report; it was presented as an annual informational update.