Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Literacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fremont County district closes five‑year literacy grant; board seeks ways to sustain gains
Summary
Superintendent and a district literacy lead said a five‑year state literacy grant that funded teacher training and classroom materials has ended; about 80 staff were trained and the district is planning to sustain the work using Title I and MTSS coordinators while seeking alternatives for recurring costs.
The Fremont County School District # 1 Board of Trustees heard an update on the district’s five‑year Wyoming ‘Believing in Literacy Together’ grant and the steps administrators plan to take now that the grant has ended.
Deidre, who led the presentation, said the grant provided significant training and resources across pre‑K through high school and helped develop a district literacy coalition. “We had almost 700,000, if I remember, something thousand dollars,” she said, describing funds for evidence‑based resources, stipends and professional development that trained roughly 80 teachers in science‑of‑reading practices.
Superintendent Mike Harris and Deidre told the board that some purchases funded by the grant—such as a K–3 reading program—carry ongoing costs; Deidre noted the K–3 program alone costs about $13,000 a year. With the grant closed, administrators said the district will use Title I funds and redeploy MTSS coordinators to preserve interventions and training. “We’re going to continue the training that way,” Deidre said, adding that teams and building leaders are committed to sustaining the work.
Board members praised the outcomes reported by staff. One board member cited screening results showing strong phonics and sight‑word proficiency among kindergarten and first‑grade students and called the early gains promising for future content learning.
Administrators characterized the loss of grant funding as a major operational concern but said they would prioritize the most effective practices and seek internal budget swaps and staffing adjustments to maintain progress.
The board did not take an action to identify new funding at the meeting; staff said they would continue to explore options and return with specifics as the district’s budget and priorities are refined.
The board moved on to other agenda items after the presentation.
