Rockford — A history-making funding infusion from the Rockford Education Foundation is helping the district maintain, and even expand, its wellness and security supports for students.
During The Taste fundraising event in May, the REF awarded Rockford Public Schools a $75,000 grant to support its school resource officer and counseling dog programs, and to cover the cost of an upcoming pilot initiative that aims to put behavioral coaches in classrooms to work with students and teachers.
REF Executive Director Beth Meyer-Kraff said the grant is the largest the foundation has ever awarded for a single school year, surpassing a previous record of around $30,000 for the Rockford Book Bus program.
“It is historic and we’re really excited and proud,” Meyer-Kraff said.
Meyer-Kraff said the foundation made wellness and security a primary fundraising focus after hearing district leaders’ concerns about future funding in these areas following the expiration of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief dollars and state-level budget changes.
“What they told us was that with the end of ESSER funds, it was a bit uncertain what was going to happen with mental health funding (and) security funding,” Meyer-Kraff said. “They just wanted to do whatever they could to make sure there wouldn’t be cuts.”
The majority of the funds — around $50,000 — will go toward the SRO program, which is a partnership between the district and Kent County. Around $6,000 will be used for costs associated with the district’s eight therapy dogs.
The remainder will fund the new behavioral coach pilot program, which will staff a few buildings with point people to handle day-to-day behavioral challenges. The roles will be filled by current Rockford employees, and the REF grant will compensate them for training and for taking on those additional responsibilities.
In a release from REF, Rockford Superintendent Steve Matthews said the district is “deeply thankful” for the support.
“These programs are essential in helping students feel safe and supported, and they reflect our commitment to the well-being of every child in our district,” Matthews said.
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