Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Dare’s Board of Education approved a consolidated application for federal funds for the next school year, approved a revised school calendar and accepted two grants.

The consolidated application includes federal grant funds for Title I, II, III and IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act.

The board’s agenda book provides a summary of how the grant funds are used.

Title I provides grant funds “for instructional activities and services to help disadvantaged children meet high academic standards.” The funds go to schools with over 40% of students using the free and reduced lunch program.

Title II grant funds support “effective instruction and improving teacher quality.”

Title III meets the needs of English learners and Title IV provides funds for “student support and academic enrichment, including mental health resources.”

The planning allotment for the four programs is $986,748, an increase of $48,430 from last year.

Four of Dare County’s elementary school programs are eligible for Title I funding:

Cape Hatteras Elementary with a projected 300 students for next year has 64% of its students participating in the free and reduced lunch program. Title I funding $152,932.02.

First Flight Elementary with a projected 288 students for next year has 44% of its students participating in the free and reduced lunch program. Title I funding $105,243.54.

Manteo Elementary with a projected 615 students for next year has 50% of its students participating in the free and reduced lunch program. Title I funding $249,131.20.

Nags Head Elementary with a projected 498 students for next year has 42% of its students participating in the free and reduced lunch program. Title I funding $163,620.82.

For all schools, Title II funding for mentor pay, professional development and an additional position is $149,309; for Title III for English learners funding is $49,761 and Title IV funding for student support and academic enrichment is $49,529.

A revised school calendar was adopted. Some school facilities are used for voting locations. The school calendar calls for a required workday Nov. 7 and an optional workday Nov. 8, election day.

The first day of school is Aug.29. The last day of school is June 9 with early dismissal.

Early dismissals days are Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Oct. 12, March 31, April 7 and May 26.

Winter break is Dec. 19 through Jan. 2; spring break is April 10 through April 14.

Acting Superintendent Sandy Kinzel told the board that 40 hours of flexibility is built into the schedule.

The school board accepted two grants.

The Lost Colony has donated 26 lighting instruments and two follow spots to Manteo High School theater department. The value is an estimated $26,800.

At Cape Hatteras Secondary School, Hurricane Dorian decimated the school’s hatchery. School staff patched tanks and replaced pumps but the program never reached its potential.

Two men from the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association approached the school with a grant opportunity. A Beach Buggy member left the association funds to support education. Since the member loved fishing and education, the association brought $7,000 for the hatchery program.

And, the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund added a $5,000 donation for the hatchery.

Representatives from the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association and the Youth Education Fund attended the June 14, 2022 Board of Education meeting.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.