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McKinney‑Vento update: district identifies 1,130 children without a fixed address; transportation is largest grant expense
Summary
The McKinney‑Vento committee reported identifying 1,130 children who qualify for services (838 enrolled in the district) and spending the majority of a ~$150,000 grant on transportation (about $63,000) and supplies; board members cited local transit access as a barrier.
Gail, reporting for the district’s McKinney‑Vento board, said the committee identified 1,130 children as qualifying for McKinney‑Vento services as of Feb. 26, of whom 838 were enrolled in Sioux Falls School District 49‑5. The count reflects children lacking a regular, fixed home address; some qualifying children were too young for kindergarten.
Gail summarized grant expenditures for the roughly $150,000 McKinney‑Vento allocation through February: about $63,000 on transportation (contracts with School Bus, Inc., bus passes, van ownership costs, fuel and gas cards), roughly $11,000 for clerical salary and benefits, and about $11,000 for professional training and supplies. The committee marked remaining pending expenditures for student hygiene items, clothing and gift cards.
Gail and other board members said transportation costs are a persistent barrier for families experiencing housing instability. One board member noted local bus passes sell out quickly and that families often need a $3 all‑day pass to reach distant social services and jobs; the district and community partners are reviewing options to supplement access. Darlene Hillmer, assistant program director for Shelter for Family Safety and a McKin‑Vento board member, praised district staff for helping enroll homeless students and flagged coordination with special education when students have IEPs.
The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for May 6. Board members said they will continue to monitor program spending and seek community partners to address transit gaps; no new funding decisions were made at the work session.
