Tri-City Sun

As Midland school officials make it their aim to keep kids at school, a variety of grants have been announced from both state and federal sources to make possible everything from school resource centers to after-school tutoring.

Kimberly Funnell, the district's state and federal programs coordinator, delved into these possibilities as she updated the school board on the district's grant status at a recent meeting.  

While highlighting the grants, Funnell also explored some ways this money could be used. State funds run on a calendar of Oct. 1 until Sept. 30, while federal funds operate on a schedule of July 1 until June 30.

“We have after-school tutoring at the high school. We've partnered with IEE (Independent Educational Evaluation) to provide specific math interventions,” she said at the Jan. 9 meeting. “Again, summer learning program at the high school level, we have lunchtime tutoring that started at Midland High School recently, and we're seeing some great success with students that are attending frequently."

As Funnell outlined, school resource centers are also back to the high school, serving as a source of information to benefit students and staff. 

"Again, social emotional learning specialists at the high schools and our learning coaches, we have school resource centers again at the high school — first year of that," she said. "Again, we're wanting to keep our kids at school and get back to class as soon as possible. And then we have our electronic learning facilitators as well that work with students in a virtual setting.”

Unused Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds from the state of Michigan have been repurposed for a one-time state aid opportunity.

The district estimates it will receive $37 per student for learning loss relief from the state, along with just under $28,000 in American Rescue Plan homelessness funds for students in need. The state also gave approximately $864,000 in school safety and mental health funds.

The district estimates that the state will be paying 100% of the cost of its support at risk students fund, an amount of some $2.8 million. The state also will a provide the district with funds for literacy, $112,000; and an additional $21,600 for bilingual students learning English.

For federal funds, the district will receive $875,000 in Title I monies, which go to support disadvantaged students. Meanwhile, approximately $185,000 in Title II funds will go toward professional development in the district. Title III funds support English learners. The district is a part of the Saginaw Intermediate School District consortium for these funds and its portion is just over $8,500. The district transferred its $56,000 in Title IV funds for academic enrichment to its Title II fund.

An assessment survey was utilized to determine how to best spend the money, and it revealed support for academics by offering further educational resources throughout the day and in the summer.  Funds also will be prioritized toward social and emotional well-being, academic assessments, teachers’ professional development and increased equity across the district.

Also in the works is a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) project to increase safety and health at a district building.