Usage of federal grant money discussed

The Hot Springs County School District met with stakeholders on May 16 to discuss the use of federal grants.

Superintendent Dustin Hunt said the most important part of a stakeholder meeting is getting the input from stakeholders about how they would like to see the district spend federal funds.

Hunt asked for comments from stakeholders regarding already implemented programs that are possible because of grants and anything else they thought might be considered educational shortfalls by the District.

The only two items discussed that might help students in the future, one of which was brought forth by Hunt himself, were students’ ability to count back change and students’ ability to measure objects.

Most stakeholders praised the District for the programs that have already been implemented and made possible by the federal grant money. Public school districts apply for grants every year through the Wyoming Department of Education. A consolidated grant is federal entitlement formula funding meaning the amounts received are based on student numbers and specific criteria. Competitive grants, on the other hand, are federal funding based on meeting certain criteria and submitting a proposal application in competition with other Wyoming districts. Federal funds are to supplement other resources.

In the 2015-16 school year, the Hot Springs County School District received two competitive grants. The 21st Century Community Learning Center grant was received to aid the District Lights On Afterschool Programs, including the summer program. The McKinney-Vento Homeless grant was received to address needs of homeless students to succeed in school.

The Hot Springs County School District also received several consolidated grants. The Title I-A Reading and Mathematics grant was given to help at-risk students in reading and mathematics.

The Title II-A Teacher Quality grant was given to provide professional development for training and recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers and administrators. The Perkins grant was given to provide secondary vocational and technical training. The IDEA Part B 611 Special Education grant was given to support special education and related services for students with disabilities. The IDEA Part B 619 Preschool grant was given for early identification of disabilities.

State funding grants included the Bridges Summer School and Extended Day grant, which provided for extended services, intervention and enrichment for identified struggling students.