Laurens 55 to apply for federal entitlement grants as district faces state fiscal 'physical watch'

The Laurens 55 Board approved a motion to allow district staff to file for federal entitlement grants (Titles I–V) for 2026–27 and also heard a detailed update about the district's delayed audit and state “physical watch.”

Amanda Lacquerose (speaker 7) summarized the five federal entitlement grants under ESSA — Title I (support for economically disadvantaged students), Title II (professional development), Title III (multilingual programs), Title IV (student supports and 21st-century learning), and Title V (rural education) — and explained typical allowable uses (interventionists, instructional coaches, class-size reduction, extended learning, counseling and multilingual supports). "These funds are available to us but we have to follow certain parameters and restrictions for what we can use the money for," she told the board, and asked for board approval to apply. The board approved the motion to file for the grants.

On finance and audit matters, finance director Leanne London (speaker 1) reported the district had received an updated draft of the audited financial statement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, but that the audit had not been filed by the statutory deadline (audit due Dec. 1; filing required by Jan. 30). The State notified the district and placed Laurens 55 on "physical watch," which triggers oversight steps. Staff explained the district can (a) submit an appeal or (b) prepare and submit a board-originated improvement plan within the state's required timeline; board members observed the appeal window may have passed and emphasized the need to prepare a timely improvement plan. "We can draft that, but I don't know that needs to come from me or Leanne," a staffer said, and board members agreed a board committee should be appointed to help draft the required materials.

Board members also questioned the auditor’s responsiveness and discussed options to replace the auditor for future years if on-site assistance and timely deliverables are not forthcoming.

Why it matters: Federal entitlements typically represent millions of dollars for services; staff said entitlement funding totals "over $3,000,000 annually" to support schools, and an overdue audited financial statement can trigger state monitoring and added reporting obligations.

What happens next: Staff will prepare materials to file the federal applications and the board will convene a committee or take action to prepare the state-required response and improvement plan on the audit and fiscal-watch matters.