District presents consolidated plan and grant portfolio; large Title I allocations highlighted

District grant managers gave an overview of the Consolidated District Plan and walked the board through the district's portfolio of federal and state grants, emphasizing timing, allowable uses and program priorities.

Presenters said the CDP streamlines multiple grant plans into a single district plan that must be renewed annually so staff can apply for funding when grant windows open (typically July 1). They reviewed several grants in sequence:

• Early Childhood Block Grant: staff said the grant funds salaries/benefits for early childhood staff and remains flat while local costs rise.

• Early Childhood Prevention Initiative (CU Early): a home‑based prevention program serving expectant families and children birth to 3, funded by ISBE and local mental‑health partners.

• Title I / Title IV: described uses for instructional coaches, kindergarten transition supports, literacy intervention staffing and blended Title IV uses for social emotional learning. Staff emphasized the district is shifting some roles and blending funds as grants change.

• Title I school improvement (1003a): award amounts and planning year designations were presented; Urbana Middle School received a substantially larger allocation this year after other districts did not claim funds.

• Title II, TAF, Title III, IDEA flow‑through and 21st Century: speakers described professional development, truancy prevention, multilingual learner supports, special education teaching assistant funding and after‑school programming supported by ESSER and other grants.

Staff highlighted that ESSER purchases (CORE curriculum, transportation, professional development) and blended funding strategies enabled recent curricular investments, and noted timelines for submissions and required needs assessments. Board members asked for clarification about how instructional coaching roles will shift into new tiered supports and about timelines for needs assessments and reports; staff said administrators will continue to provide updates and that final approval of the CDP is requested at the May 21 regular meeting so applications can proceed.