MARYVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is announcing school districts in the 56th District will receive an estimated $83,108,465 in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Teachers, students, parents and administrators have worked tirelessly during the pandemic to maintain a safe, beneficial learning environment,” Crowe said. “These local investments will work to ensure our school system is on the road to recovery, now that an end to the pandemic is in sight.”

The funding comes as part of the most recent federal COVID-19 relief packages. Schools, students and parents have overcome challenges that no one could have imagined before the pandemic began, including remote and hybrid learning, digital connection issues, new processes for receiving state and federal aid that normally flow through schools, and more.

Local school districts are set to receive the following amounts:

• Roxana Community Unit School District 1 -  $7,113,839
• Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 -  $6,577,709
• Bethalto Community Unit School District 8 -  $6,372,110
• Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 -  $21,336,668
• Alton Community Unit School District 11 -  $30,730,307
• East Alton School District 13 -  $4,174,821
• East Alton-Wood River Community High School District 14 -  $2,199,552
• Wood River-Hartford ESD 15 -  $2,819,674
• Central School District 104 -  $1,783,785

The majority of the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, which gives local schools a great deal of flexibility in how they can use the money over the next 3 ½ years. At least 20% of the funding must be used to address learning loss, but beyond that, school districts can use the money to address many different issues and costs. For example, it can be used to better equip schools for safe learning, to prevent layoffs, to address students’ social and emotional needs, to fund summer programs, or to ensure all students have access to reliable Wi-Fi and technology.

The State Board of Education, in collaboration with other state agencies that address education, has produced a guide for local school districts to help them decide how to best use their resources. While the guide and other state-sponsored services are completely voluntary, the state aims to support local districts during this difficult time.

“Our personal sacrifices have saved lives,” Crowe said. “When our school districts receive these funds, I hope they will invest in protecting their most at-risk students, remembering emotional and mental concerns will remain after the pandemic is eradicated.”

In total, Illinois received nearly $7 billion to support local school districts.

MARYVILLE – To improve roadway drainage infrastructure in Glen Carbon, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) and State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) secured an $18,750 state grant to help the village make much-needed upgrades.

“This grant will help ensure roadways are safe for motorists,” Crowe said. “I commend village officials on being proactive in applying for state funding opportunities, and I look forward to construction starting.”

“I’m happy to see this important project come to fruition and I applaud the work of the village in getting this done,” Stuart said. “Improving our roads will have a positive impact across our entire community.”

The Village of Glen Carbon has received a state grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity totaling $18,750 to construct a drainage outfall at the corner of Glen Crossing Road and Jamie Lynn Drive.

Throughout the grant application process, Crowe and Stuart advocated on behalf of the village at the state level by signing onto letters in support of the project in efforts to help Glen Carbon secure funding.

MARYVILLE – To enhance the state’s workforce by improving high school job-training programs, the Illinois State Board of Education has awarded 10 regional entities with Career and Technical Education (CTE) Education Career Pathways Grants, and State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is thrilled to see the Madison County Career and Technical Education System selected as a recipient.

“These grants will help schools recruit and support future educators in the Career and Technical Education field by providing them with hands-on learning opportunities, mentorships and experiences to benefit their futures,” Crowe said. “Madison County is home to a robust number of companies in the CTE industry, and it’s important for educators to reflect the diversity of students within our school system.”

The Madison County Career and Technical Education System has received $84,839 to recruit and support future educators at Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, Highland High School, Southwestern High School in Piasa and Triad High School in Troy.

The CTE Education Career Pathways Grants were awarded to 62 schools and vocational centers across the state, totaling almost $2 million. Currently, only 18% of teachers identify as people of color. These grants are intended to help increase diversity within the CTE teaching profession in Illinois.

Applicants to the CTE Education Pathways Grant program had to submit implementation plans outlining their strategies to recruit underrepresented students into education careers. The grant also requires a partnership between grantees and institutions of higher education to ensure students can earn dual credit or other certifications while still in high school.

“For students who want to pursue careers in CTE after graduation, this grant serves as an effective tool to place qualified, committed teachers in their classrooms,” Crowe said. “CTE includes everything from health sciences to manufacturing, and for students to get the most out of this path, it is important we have skilled educators.”

For a full list of the grant recipients, visit the ISBE website.

SPRINGFIELD – The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) has been selected to receive $200,000 in state funds through the Illinois Bicycle Path Grant Program, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) announced Wednesday.

“Bike paths provide a safe public space for residents, families and visitors to be physically active and enjoy the outdoors,” Crowe said. “This major investment will allow residents to enjoy even more opportunities for safe transportation and recreation, as well as attract visitors to our area.”

SCCTD will use the grant funding to construct a 0.8-mile section of paved trail located along the west side of Old Collinsville Road in Fairview Heights from Munie Road to Frank Scott Parkway East.

The Illinois Bicycle Path Grant Program, which is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, was created in 1990 to provide grants to eligible local governments for projects that develop, rehabilitate or construct new bike paths. This year, the program will fund seven bike path projects across the state totaling more than $800,000.

Learn more about the program, eligible projects and the application process here.