LM March 2021_lg

Series Part XV

Difference ... cont’d.

Morris SD #54

“To retain and recruit new teachers is incredibly hard when you’re competing with districts across the river in Kentucky,” Edmonson said. Continued support of EBF would… Hardin County CUSD #1 would bring back more vocational programs, such as shop and automotive class, if the state continued to invest into EBF. “Our students see what other schools have and they are aware of what we don’t have, which makes it easy for them to question, ‘Why can’t we do this or that?” Edmondson said. “The bottom line is it comes down to funds.”

Enrollment: 1,173 FY18: $343,953

FY20: $350,368 FY21: Flat Funding

Type: preK–8

FY19: $319,798

How EBF has made a difference Evidence-Based Funding helped Morris SD #54 address inequities and recover from a devastating financial hit the district took after the closure of Collins Generating Station in 2004. “When the power plant left, about 45 percent of our EAV (Equalized Assessed Value) left with it,” Morris SD #54 Superintendent Dr. Shannon Dudek said. “It left a huge hole in our budget. EBF allowed us to come back to normal.” The state’s investment into EBF allowed the district to hire staff in areas that directly support students both inside and outside of the classroom. Morris SD #54 hired two instructional coaches to provide support and professional development to teachers. The dollars were also used to hire four math and reading interventionists that have helped boost academic achievement. An additional administrator was also added to better support staff and students. “The instructional coaches have been a Godsend because they have been able to do so many things,” Dudek said. “Our teachers now have that direct contact and someone to talk to and work closely with when they’re struggling inside the classroom.” The new dollars have also been critical to address student wellness and provide additional social-emotional support. The district added two social workers, bilingual students supports, another school psychologist and a second nurse, all of which have been instrumental in helping the district navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the state’s investment allowed Morris SD #54 to hire additional special education teachers and offer more direct support to students. Hiring a school resource officer offered another touchpoint to students and their families. “Every superintendent is concerned about social-emotional support for students during this pandemic,” Dudek said. “I can’t imagine what it would have been like if we didn’t have the in- house staff to provide that support and connection to students and families.” Continued support of EBF would… Morris SD #54 would use additional EBF dollars from the state to continue to invest in people. The possibilities include additional instructional coaches, nurses, psychologists and teachers to improve STEM opportunities for students. “We feel people are the best investment,” Dudek said. “We want to use our dollars where they can have the most impact on students.”

Lincoln CHSD #404

Enrollment: 519 Type: preK–12

FY18: $247,585 FY19: $135,058

FY20: $127,188 FY21: Flat funding

How EBF has made a difference Additional funding from the state has allowed Lincoln CHSD #404 to provide additional social-emotional support to students and expand academic opportunities. The district used the dollars to form a partnership with Chestnut Health Systems to bring in additional social workers to the district. Before EBF, the district’s social worker primarily supported students with Individualized Education Plans. The partnership allowed the district to expand social-emotional support to all students. “They have been critical in working with teachers on how they can support students in their classrooms,” said superintendent Dwight Stricklin. Evidence-Based Funding also allowed Lincoln CHSD #404 to bolster its curriculum. The district invested the dollars into a STEM geometry curriculum. In addition, a STEM robotics curriculum will provide a more engaging and creative curriculum for students. “We wanted to give students more opportunities and a lot more hands-on interaction,” Stricklin said. “The students have absolutely loved it.” Continued support of EBF would… If the state continued to invest in the EBF formula, Lincoln CHSD #404 would look to expand social-emotional support to students. “There is just so much more we need to do with this,” Stricklin said. “It would have a tremendous impact on our district if we could just bring in one more person to provide support to students and families.”

24 LM March 2021