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District awarded $250,000 grant
Students who are struggling in school might be facing a variety of difficulties in their home lives, which makes focusing on their academics and completing homework a difficult task.
A new initiative that will be rolled out in the 2016-17 school year at Bellefontaine City Schools — the IMPACT program, which stands for Imagine Making Accountable Changes Together — will put support systems and processes in place to assist pupils and their families with removing barriers to education and encouraging their success.
Christine Galvin, executive director of instructional services, reported at Monday evening’s board of education meeting that the district has received a two-year $250,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Exceptional Children to put the IMPACT Program in place.
She said Bellefontaine City Schools was among 17 schools in the state to be awarded the grant funding, out of the 87 schools that applied.
Superintendent Brad Hall thanked Mrs. Galvin for writing the grant and spearheading the project.
“Every dollar counts for our school districts, and $250,000 is a very sizable grant. I certainly appreciate all the time she put in for this program that will help a number of our students overcome barriers.”
Beginning next school year, children in preschool, elementary and middle school can be referred to the IMPACT Program by school staff members, their parents, court staff and others if they are identified as experiencing barriers to academic, social or community success.
Some of the referrals could result following school attendance or behavioral concerns, a family crisis that is affecting a child’s success, chronic chaos in the home, difficulty with social interaction at school, experience of depression or anxiety, difficulty managing anger, lack of motivation or parental need for support to affect change. Family participation in the program also could offer an alternative to disciplinary action such as suspension or expulsion.
Children and families involved in the IMPACT Program will be offered access to counseling, case management and other tools to create and maintain positive life changes.
Mrs. Galvin said students’ academic progress will be monitored throughout the process, and then participants will be assisted as they move into high school to help them prepare for life after graduation.
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