LORAIN, Ohio — Lorain City Schools is investing state and federal dollars into mental health care, academic support and family engagement as part of a districtwide effort to put all students on a path to college or a career by 2027, according to an update shared with the school board Monday.
The district’s spending priorities reflect statewide trends in how Ohio schools are using Gov. Mike DeWine’s Student Wellness and Success Funds and Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid. Of the $885 million spent across the state in fiscal year 2024, more than half went toward mental and physical health services, in line with state mandates.
In Lorain, that translated into funding for social worker and nurse salaries, school safety upgrades, contracted wraparound services, academic intervention programs and instructional technology. The district also highlighted its partnership with QuickMed, which operates a health clinic inside Washington Elementary to serve students, staff, and families.
In addition to state aid, federal funds supported several targeted initiatives across the district:
- Title I: Used to support interventions for struggling students and foster family engagement. Lorain used this funding for reading teachers at elementary schools, math and reading teachers at middle and high schools, summer programming, educational software and supplies, and family engagement events.
- Title II-A: Directed toward enhancing the quality of teachers and school leaders. These funds supported academic coaching, educational technology, English learner strategies, and special education support.
- Title III: Provided language instruction support for English learners, including hiring bilingual paraprofessionals in FY 2024.
- IDEA-B and IDEA Early Childhood: Used to support students with disabilities from pre-K through grade 12, covering salaries and benefits for intervention specialists and paraprofessionals, professional development and instructional materials.
- Title IV: Focused on improving academic achievement through broader supports, including wellness coaches, school counselors, mentoring programs, social-emotional learning and classroom materials.
The district emphasized that all spending is guided by its strategic plan, which aims to ensure every student graduates prepared for life beyond high school.
Community members with questions about the funding are encouraged to contact Vicky Timko, director of federal programs and grants, at [email protected] or 440-830-4018, or Casey Smith, federal programs grants coordinator, at [email protected] or 440-830-4019.
