MONROE, CT — News stories about the strong possibility of the U.S. Department of Education being shuttered made some wonder how much funding Monroe’s public schools receive from the federal government, so upon Board of Education Chairman David Ferris’ request, Superintendent Joseph Kobza made a presentation at the last board meeting.
Kobza said federal funding from the Education Department accounts for just under one-and-a-half percent of the town’s entire education budget, amounting to $1,034,648 this year.
“We have this money this year, so we’re not too concerned about the downsizing,” Kobza said. “Could it impact us in the future in terms of getting money in a timely manner? We’ve been told that this money is not going away. It will be here for us. But it’s important to understand how the federal dollars work.”
The superintendent said it is his understanding that, because the U.S. Department of Education was created by an act of Congress, which also authorizes the grants it offers, it would take an act of Congress to eliminate the department and its funding.
However, according to the latest news reports, President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order to shutdown the federal agency.
Of the $1,034,648 in federal money Monroe received from the department this year, Kobza said about $800,000 of it comes from three Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants.
“A lot of that money is encumbered in staff salaries,” Kobza said.
This includes portions of salaries for 11 certified staff members, and eight full salaries of noncertified staff. “Those are our paraeducators in IDEA,” he said of the latter group.
The rest of the money is used for testing, professional development, supplies and technology, and parent activities.
For example, Director of Student Support Services Jennifer Parsell and Assistant Director Marissa Memoli host a parents seminar once a month to discuss different facets of special education and support for students with families, according to Kobza.
Then there is a $15,000 Transition Support Grant the district received, which he said was a one time grant they are not likely to receive again next year.
“This was earmarked specifically for our community program,” Kobza said of a program in Stevenson for students between the ages of 18 and 22.
“We use that money primarily to purchase curriculum, but we were also able to get supplies and technology,” he said.
A $31,978 Carl D. Perkins Grant is earmarked for career and technology education. For a computer aided drafting (CAD program) it supplies the curriculum, writing of materials, and the technology.
Curriculum and classroom resources include cameras, mixers, drones, technology, robotics materials, as well as professional development.
A $123,073 Title-I grant supports low income students. The state designates a school every year for Title I funds.
“It’s based on the school with the highest number of students on free and reduced lunch,” Kobza said, “and this year it happens to be Jockey Hollow.”
Among the things the district uses the grant for is to pay for three-fourths of the salary of a reading teacher, professional development for teachers and instructional materials to support students.
A $46,331 Title-II grant is used for a 0.2 reading consultant, professional development for staff and training materials.
An $11,542 Title-III grant is earmarked to support multilingual learners, Kobza said, adding it is used for instructional supplies and technology needed to support both teachers and students, of whom English is not their first language.
This grant is used for school in the entire district and pays for things like iPads, language software, and professional development for general education teachers.
Kobza said the district sends its MLL teachers to workshops, so they can come back and work with general education teachers and give them strategies they can use in the classroom.
The last grant in the superintendent’s presentation was a $10,000 Title-IV grant, a general grant centering around health, safety and a well-rounded curriculum.
“We used money from this in the past to help cover costs of the da Vinci Festival and the RULER training we have done in the past few years,” Kobza said.
The RULER program is meant to foster emotional intelligence in schools.
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