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School district applies for $1.5 million grant

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ST. IGNATIUS — In October, the Office of Public Instruction announced it received a $7.6 million Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, and will sub grant 95 percent of the money to established Head Starts and eligible districts. St. Ignatius Superintendent Bob Lewandowski said the district applied, and if awarded, could receive $1.5 million over the course of more than a year.

“In grant world, things are drying up … our intention is to sustain all levels of the grant and satisfy our needs for kids in the district,” Lewandowski said.

He said the district will learn early next year if they are one of 18 eligible schools awarded a grant.

Lewandowski also shared with the school board that he will start work to establish a handbook for volunteers at the school.

“There are a lot of people who want to volunteer, and that is good,” Lewandowski said.

He added that recent scandals at academic institutions such as Penn State, have caused school districts to be more vigilant and proactive when it comes to protecting students.

“There might be things that people might not think are inappropriate, such as giving gifts,” Lewandowski said.

In other news, Michael Esslinger and Bill Brown were cleared as the two new volunteer boys’ basketball assistant coaches.

Patrick Irvin was also hired as the in-school suspension monitor.

Lewandowski also announced that the district was approved for the Gear Up program for the next seven years.

“We have not received any funds from them just yet. They weren’t sure they were going to get funded, and the director retired,” Lewandowski said.

“(But) it’s really exciting to have funding for seven years.”

Montana Education Association coordinator Terry Cable also informed the school board that the 2012-13 negotiations was approaching, as she handed them a formal letter.

School board Chair Maxine Whitson said the groups would set up a meeting in January to begin the negotiation process.

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