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Orange district outlines mental-health grants, wins $18,225 Title III grant for parent university
Summary
The board’s business updates detailed ARPA-funded summer mental-health supports and a Title III award of $18,225 to create an online 'Orange Parent University' for multilingual families, plus an ARPA-funded specialist supporting a social worker in the district.
At its April 21 meeting, the Orange Board of Education heard detailed grant and program reports from district administrators.
Mr. Gray summarized existing grant funding for student mental health: an ARPA summer mental-health supports grant (three-year award, with year two funding reported at $50,000 and year three at $35,000) and a primary mental-health grant ($20,000 total, with about $1,500 spent and roughly $8,500 remaining). He also described an ARPA school mental-health specialist grant that has supported a social worker’s salary (an amount cited as $92,000 overall with about $30,000 remaining in the grant).
In a related curriculum report, Dr. Russo said the district was awarded a competitive consolidated Title III grant of $18,225 to create and implement an Orange Parent University to support families of multilingual learners. The planned program includes two main elements: online asynchronous modules (with live translations and captions) and monthly virtual community meetings facilitated by district multilingual services leaders. Module topics will cover navigating town and school systems, multi-tiered systems of support, special education basics, homework strategies and technology guidance. Dr. Russo said the platform will support at least 28 different languages and confirmed translation services will continue to be provided at in-person conferences.
Administrators also reported a security-related grant that had been expected to reimburse about $12,000 had no funds available and the district would absorb the cost. Mr. Gray said the agency responded that reimbursement was not possible.
Administrators reminded families that free and reduced price meal applications and other food services information are available on the district website (oes.org).
