It’s too soon to know how the Iola district may spend its next round of federal pandemic relief money or a windfall from the wind farm.
Superintendent Stacey Fager told board members the district expects to receive about $1.3 million from the next most recent round of federal pandemic relief funding.
The district also should receive about $50,000 from the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) paid by the Prairie Queen Wind Farm to Allen County. Each of the three school districts in the county and the Regional Rural Technical Center at LaHarpe are expected to receive equal payments.
Administrators are still considering their options for the federal relief money, Fager said. He plans to consult with the Greenbush educational cooperative and state officials about requirements for the money.
Some of the items the district is eyeing include various educational programs, and cleaning and sanitation systems that could include some type of air filtration or ventilation system. The money potentially could help with some aspects of the new school construction projects.
Fager also said he expects to provide more information about plans for the PILOT money at the next board meeting in two weeks.
Greenbush Virtual Academy
Greenbush is launching an online education program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
USD 257 will decide whether to join the program next year, which would allow elementary students to attend a remote education program. In recent years, the district offers a virtual learning program for high school students, but this year required them to attend at least a portion of their time in the school building.
The Greenbush program would be similar, but would be targeted at elementary students.
It was developed for the state in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which forced districts to create their own remote learning programs.
It’s a good option for the district, since the pandemic has revealed challenges with remote learning. Having a program dedicated to online learning will give families that option.
“We can make this more of a seamless transition now, since we don’t know where we’re going to be in August and what restrictions might be in place,” Fager told the board.
Any students enrolled in the program on “Count Day,” Sept. 21, will be counted as remote students and Greenbush would receive funding for them.
Potentially, it could reduce USD 257’s funding if a large number of students joined the program. Fager said he still believes it would be worth it.
“I see it as giving us stability,” he said.
Career and Technical Education
