Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has announced $33.3 million was awarded to 747 districts and schools to provide students with safer and healthier learning environments through the Ohio Department of Education’s Stronger Connections Grant.
Wood County’s nine public schools received funds.
“The Stronger Connections grant strengthens our commitment to ensuring students are safe and have the resources they need while addressing the mental and physical health needs that are critical to ensuring students are ready to learn and be successful in the classroom and in life,” DeWine said.
This grant opportunity complements Future Forward Ohio, which prioritizes student wellness, including addressing barriers that prevent students from engaging in learning. Districts and schools can use Stronger Connections Grant funds to support their local health and safety needs, including student wellness and mental health.
Funds can be used for activities that foster safe, healthy, supportive and drugfree environments and support students’ academic achievement.
All school districts and community schools that applied for the Stronger Connections Grant received award based on health and safety factors collected from data, including rates of poverty, chronic absenteeism and exclusionary discipline.
“It is critical for students to enter a positive, safe and supportive learning environment each day as they explore, discover, and achieve,” said Chris Woolard, interim superintendent of public instruction. “The Stronger Connections grant helps schools to continue addressing challenges that impact a child’s learning so students can focus on reaching success.”
• Bowling Green received $92,067
• Perrysburg received $65,000
• Eastwood received $5,163
• Elmwood received $9,555
• Lake Local received $12,473
• North Baltimore received $7,980
• Northwood received $8,525
• Otsego received $59,587
• Rossford received $19,009
Funding was based on available poverty, exclusionary discipline and chronic absenteeism data with additional monies granted to those districts that showed the highest need in their grant application. Bowling Green, Otsego and Perrysburg all received additional funds.
