Mt. Lebanon School Board discusses grant funding changes
The Mt. Lebanon School Board discussed changes in grant funding for the district that require it to see aside some money for certain areas.
Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Marybeth Irvin said during the Aug. 14 meeting that while the district is receiving additional funding from some grants, the “whole package is down $29,000.”
This decrease is due in part to new regulations that will require the Mt. Lebanon School District to set aside $13,380 of funding received from Title II and make that money available for professional development for non-public schools within the attendance area. This money could be used by private schools in the area as they see fit.
Business Director Janice Klein said that the change in funding would have a limited impact on the budget. Despite the seemingly drastic decrease in grant funding, the impact to students will be minimal, assured Irvin.
“We will not see a significant impact on the services we provide students,” she said.
The money from the Title I, II and III programs discussed during the meeting will be used to fund services like reading specialists, reduced class sizes, professional development and English as a second language programs.
The board also discussed renewing contract agreements for additional student services, such as student assistance, skilled nursing, mental health services and a credit recovery program that enables students to take some classes as part of a cyber school to recoup lost credits or make room in their schedules for electives. All of these programs were used last school year.
The board was scheduled to vote on these matters at its next meeting on Aug. 21.