Grant funds pave way to three teacher hires in Troy
By Marianne Eisenbrandt For The Herald-News September 24, 2012 8:54AM
Updated: October 27, 2012 6:07AM
JOLIET — A Title I grant will result in the hiring of three additional Troy school teachers who can provide assistance and support for students that are not meeting expected academic growth.
The Troy School Board recently approved the creation of the Title I teaching position. The cost of the three positions is estimated at $150,000.
Superintendent Don White said the district received notice that its Title I final allocation for this school year is much more than originally projected.
The final approved allocation is $406,885, which is $130,171 more than the projected $276,714.
White said the district is limited in the manner in which it can expend these funds.
“In general, we can purchase supplies and materials, we can employ staff, and we can use it for a very few other limited items but all of it must be spent in support of Title I schools,” White said.
Title I schools this year are William B. Orenic Intermediate, Troy Crossroads and Troy Heritage Trail schools.
White said rather than using these funds to buy supplies and materials he was recommending that the funds be used to employ teachers who can work directly with students.
“If the board approves these positions, we will plan to RIF (reduce in force) three teachers in March as we will not know if the funding will continue for another year until late spring 2013,” White said.
The allocation is divided as follows: 10 percent for professional development ($40,688); about $50,000 toward instructional materials; $4,000 for homeless students’ supplies and transportation; and the remaining $300,000 divided among three reading specialists salaries and three new Title I teachers.
In other business, Ken Surma, director of operations, reported that a process has begun to bring online registration to Troy.
Surma also updated the board on the progress being made regarding the 2012-13 residency cases. There are 15 families being investigated, which involve 24 students.
A final decision was reached in six of the cases and nine families are still under investigation to see if the students reside in the Troy School District.
The board also made three co-curricular appointments: Laura Balogh and Rebekah Tazelaar, William B. Orenic Intermediate School News Team; and Kate Carani, Troy Middle School Poms coach.
