NEWTON - Memorial School will not qualify for Title I, federal funding based on students’ economic status, next year. The money has provided additional reading programs for students for the past several years.

Superintendent Dr. James Weiss and the Sanborn Regional School District Early Literacy Group, made up of principals, specialists, and curriculum coordinators, met last week to discuss the status of the district’s Title I program.

After checking on the number of students using free or reduced lunch at all Sanborn schools, which determines Title I participation, Weiss discovered Memorial School would no longer be eligible. The number of students using free or reduced lunch went below the guideline for funding.

"Over the last number of years Title I has been providing extra reading services at Bakie and Memorial schools," Weiss said. "Come September, it will only provide service at Bakie and the middle school."

Title I funding for the 2005-’06 school year is based on the number of students who sign up for free or reduced lunch by Oct. 1 the previous year. Weiss said although the number may be down this year, it could rise again next year and Memorial could have Title I funding for the 2006-’07 school year. It all depends on the lunch program, he said. All students in a qualifying school are eligible for reading services through Title I.

Although Memorial School will lose its Title I status and services, it does not mean the district will be getting less money from the federal government. During this school year the district received between $16,000 and $17,000 for Title I at Bakie and Memorial schools. Weiss said the district will receive the same amount next year except it will be used for programs at Bakie and Sanborn Regional Middle School instead. The money goes to pay for a para-professional reading specialist and about 10 percent for materials.

"We are just beginning to look at our Title I program," Weiss said. "We are looking at our options of what we will do with Title I for next year and which schools will participate. I am not sure what services we’ll offer at the middle school."

Weiss said Title I services have been offered at the elementary schools for as long as he can remember and next year may be the first for the middle school.

Weiss said he plans on researching the Title I program with the Early Literacy Group and present options to the Sanborn Regional School Board sometime in February or March.