Washougal School District monitors grant-funded programs, prepares for possible federal cuts

Reacting to a recent spate of federal spending cuts, Washougal School District leaders say they are proactively exploring alternative ways to support the Unite! Washougal Community Coalition, which is partially funded by federal grants.

“There is nothing I have heard or seen that specifically indicates changes to the (Unite! Washougal) grants,” Washougal School District Superintendent Aaron Hansen said. “We are simply being thoughtful and cautious as we continue to monitor all of our funding sources to ensure we are prepared in case of changes.”

Unite! Washougal, a nonprofit organization that helps youth make healthier lifestyle choices, is partially funded by the Drug Free Communities Support Program, which provides grants to community coalitions to reduce local youth substance use. The program, created in 1997 by the Drug-Free Communities Act, is administered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and managed by the ONDCP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Unite! Washougal received a 10-year grant from the federal program in 2016.

“We are confident that we can meet all applicable requirements and updated guidance from the federal government while serving local families,” said Margaret McCarthy, Unite! Washougal’s executive director. “The grant is in year nine of 10. There is never a guarantee that the work will be funded in a future grant cycle, but we’re also applying for other ways of funding to make sure that the important work of guiding health choices for Washougal youth can continue.”

Unite! Washougal is also funded by a grant, awarded in 2012, from the Washington State Health Care Authority’s Community Wellness and Prevention Initiative.

Unite! Washougal leaders said they use the state funding to “increase community collaboration to reduce substance use and mental health issues facing today’s youth.”

Hansen said in March that he was concerned about certain federal grants that help fund programs benefiting Washougal students, including the Drug-Free Communities grant and a Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking grant.

“We have programs as a result of those funds, and we have staff who do really good work in supporting our students and our families,” Hansen said. “The challenge is, when you’re in a school year and we have to make abrupt changes, we don’t necessarily do that very well because we have collective bargaining agreements, we have contracts with vendors, and we have students relying on those programs.”

Hansen said there is a difference between federal funding streams such as those that fund special education and low-income school programs and discretionary grants, which he said “may be more subject to administrative changes.”

“The school district, along with other local organizations, uses federal grant funds in a number of ways,” said Les Brown, the school district’s communications director.

The Washougal School District receives about 6 percent of its funding from the federal government through various grants and programs, including the National School Lunch Program that provides low-cost or no-cost breakfast and lunch for eligible Washougal students, and Title I, II and IV funding, which goes toward learning supports for students who may be struggling academically, the district’s bilingual language program and professional development opportunities for teachers. The district also receives federal grant money to help provide services to students with disabilities.

“Federal funds provide a small but important amount of funding in the Washougal School District, and are used to support programs that benefit local students and their families,” said Washougal School District Finance Director Shelese McConnell. “Without these funds, the district would need to either reduce services or reprioritize the use of other funding to continue to serve students.”

Doug Flanagan: 360-735-4669; [email protected]