Wilkes County Schools details 2025–26 federal allocations, including $2.9 million for Title I

At the Dec. 1 Wilkes County Board of Education meeting, Chief Academic Officer Callie Grubb summarized the district’s 2025–26 federal program allotments and explained how the funds will be used.

Grubb said the Title I allotment is $2,916,590, which the district will distribute to all 13 elementary schools based on free- and reduced-price lunch percentages. She said Title I funds will support personnel, instructional materials and supplies, instructional technology, parent and family engagement, and professional development.

Grubb described the Title II allotment of $368,243 for 2025–26, noting the funds are earmarked to support effective instruction through four teaching positions, beginning teacher support, a new principal mentor, recruitment expenses, signing bonuses for hard-to-fill areas and tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing administrative licensure. Title III funding for multilingual learners is listed at $61,136 and will support a cultural liaison, engagement activities, ELLevation software and curricular materials. Title IV is budgeted at $218,978 for student and academic enrichment, including professional learning for art and music teachers and school counselors, instructional support tools and a middle school counselor position.

Grubb also described supports through the Rural and Low-Income Schools (RLIS) program for middle and high school technology and the Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) programs, which provide curriculum materials and professional development for federally designated schools.

The board did not debate or alter the funding figures during the presentation; the amounts were presented for informational and planning purposes.