On Monday, Oct. 17, the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District is scheduled to hold a special district meeting, where registered voters of both towns can deliberate and vote on whether or not to accept $112,851 in unanticipated funds from the state’s extraordinary need grant.
“If accepted, these funds will be added to the district’s budget this year and will be utilized to improve the educational growth and achievements of learners. Acceptance of this grant would increase our budget without any additional tax impact,” Superintendent Reuben Duncan wrote in an announcement of the special district meeting.
The funds became accessible to the district as of July 1, which is when Gov. Chris Sununu signed into law SB 420. The bill established an extraordinary need grant for schools in addition to existing adequate-education grants and relief grants.
According to the bill, the amount given to each school is based on the number of pupils eligible to receive a free or reduced-price lunch, relative to the property values in the area. In order to receive the grant, the district must provide a plan to the Department of Education outlining how the district plans to improve students’ educational achievements and an accountability plan for measuring student growth in reading, language arts and/or mathematics.
The School Board is not able to accept these funds; they must be accepted through a vote of the registered voting public. The warrant article, as written, requests voters accept the funding, which will be added to the district’s general fund. It is unanimously recommended by the school board.
The meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m., in the Rindge Memorial School gym. Participants must be registered voters in Rindge or Jaffrey.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.