School district staff were honored by the state recently for the quality of a grant application seeking continued funding for special services.

Thursday, September 09, 1999

School district staff were honored by the state recently for the quality of a grant application seeking continued funding for special services.

In the approved grant, the district received $527,000 to continue Title 1, 2 and 6 funding. Up $84,000 from last year, the grant includes $475,000 for K-3 students with special needs, $20,000 for math and science teacher training and $31,000 for innovative projects.

To receive the funding, the district submits a grant each year. The money isn’t &uot;new money,&uot; said District Curriculum Director Judy Knudtson.

The grant was increased this year by the state because of an increasing need for English as a Second Language services in Albert Lea, said Special Services Director Keith Erickson.

&uot;It is my pleasure to approve the … consolidated application for Albert Lea Public Schools,&uot; Children Families and Learning official Janet Bourdon wrote in the approval letter. &uot;I want to thank you (Erickson), Jane Grund and staff (Knudtson) for your exemplary work on this application. Your Part 1 was excellent. I wish all districts would have used the proposed ‘adequate yearly progress’ indicators to assess how they are doing and make decisions using Title funds.&uot;’

She continued, &uot;I would like your permission to use your application as an exemplary example for other districts. I truly compliment you (Erickson) and your staff for your constant efforts to improve coordination of programs, student achievement, parent involvement, staff development and particularly your efforts with developing paraprofessional capacity.&uot;

While the letter was addressed to Erickson, he told the school board that the entire district deserves credit for being ‘data driven.&uot;

&uot;I feel real fortunate to be a part of this,&uot; he said. &uot;We truly deserve the credit in this letter. The people who read grants often want to know how you will do this and that for the money.&uot;