Ventnor Educational Community Complex
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR The school district will use most of the funding from the federal government's coronavirus relief grants to boost student performance over the next two years. The district was awarded three grants totaling $1.6 million through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.
According to Superintendent Carmela Somershoe, the district is seeking to put the money toward identified needs that will improve student performance, such as learning acceleration, summer school programs, increasing reading interventions, special education and basic skills support, and reducing class sizes based on enrollment needs.
This will be essential because of the governor's recent announcement that remote learning will not be an option next year, she said.
The grant allocation provides $1,464,711 to pay for the salaries and benefits for a reading teacher, two special education teachers, and full-time and part-time basic skills teachers over the next two years. The allocation also funds instructional and non-instructional supplies, and HVAC RAC system repairs and replacements. A Learning Acceleration grant totaling $93,998 will be spent on 11, 15-day summer school classes over the next three years, including transportation. Additionally, a $45,000 grant will be used for mental health professional development.
Somershoe said an internal shifting of staff and the funding has allowed the district to hire the two new special education teachers James Logue and Christina Tsoplakis, who have each worked for the district for several years.
The district is currently preparing a reopening plan for the next school year, which will be presented to the board at its next meeting on June 23, she said.
Somershoe also said the district is seeking competitive recreation grant funds to erect a new playground and basketball court at the rear of the Ventnor Educational Community Complex.
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