By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the Jan. 13 meeting of the Panorama School Board, Superintendent Kasey Huebner shared information about the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship (TPRA) Grant. The TPRA grant allows current interested paraeducators to earn their bachelor’s degree in teaching. In this second round of funding, a total of 11 K-12 districts were chosen to receive grants to develop 68 new teacher apprentices and 26 new paraeducator apprentices.
“We are excited to offer a few of our paraeducators an opportunity to obtain a teaching license without the financial burden. This initiative allows us to invest in our staff and build our talent pipeline. Our goal has always been to hire exceptional individuals, and now we can invest in them with the hope that they will someday teach in our district and enhance the experiences of Panorama students,” Huebner said.
Panorama schools are being awarded a $114,000 grant to serve three participants.
“Panorama Community School District’s TPRA program will address the district’s critical need for special education teachers, improved education delivery, and support for students with disabilities,” Huebner said. “This program will offer financial and professional development support to three district paraeducators as they pursue Iowa teacher licensure in the K-12 teacher pathway. Grant funds will be used for tuition expenses, books and fees, and mentor stipends.”
The school board members heard the fiscal year 2024 financial audit review.
The board approved an application for Modified Supplemental funding for At-Risk/Dropout. This is an annual application to the School Board Review Committee to allow for an increase in spending authority.
The next regular meeting of the Panorama School Board is set for Monday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome.