Superintendent Dr. Staci Johnson, on June 29, provided an update to the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education on grant funding applications that the district has submitted this year, while closing out previous years.

Johnson provided a graph in her report outlining awarded funds, sources and submissions for approval for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.

Four grants were submitted for the 2026-27 school year, for a total of $845,603.28 in outside funding. One has been approved. The grants and projects include:

• The 21st Century Community Learning Center (21CCLC) grant, awarded originally in 2024 to be distributed over a five-year period, to fund a before-and-after-school program called EXCEL. The grant must be renewed each year and is in the amount of $400,000. It has been approved.

Pending grants include:

• A $70,603.28 playground scrap tire surface material grant to purchase a solid surface for the Gerald Elementary School playground.

• A second playground scrap tire surface material grant in the amount of $75,000 to purchase a solid surface for the Gerald Elementary School playground.

• An MOQPK grant for $300,000 to assist with preschool teachers’ salaries and purchase supplies.

During the 2025-26 school year, the district applied for 11 grants and received eight for $1,222,967 total. Projects included:

• The 21st Century Learning Center Grant for before-and-after-school programs, a five-year grant that must be renewed.

• MOQPK grant awarded $300,000 for preschool and supplies. Funding was for $400,000, and is dependent on enrollment.

• Non-playground scrap tire surface material grant for Owensville Elementary School and Gerald Elementary School, each for $17,122 or $34,244 total.

• A Limited Access Grant for $295,317 to purchase equipment for a screen printing program, room remodel, and salaries.

• A COPS grant for $159,000 to purchase new cameras and a system for buses.

• An EBRIP 24-25 grant for $9,986 to reimburse an evidence-based reading instruction program for LETRS stipends, subs and materials.

• RootEd provided $24,420 to fund the partial salary of the RootEd career advisor.

In 2024-25, the district received $1,144,898.60 in grants.

In 2023-24, the district received $590,903 in grant funding.

In 2022-23, the district received $212,000 in grant funding.

Johnson submitted the grant update during her final meeting as assistant superintendent, taking over the superintendent role on July 1 for the district. New Assistant Superintendent Jesse Janssen also stepped into his role on July 1, and will be responsible for writing grant applications for the district in the future.

Johnson noted during Janssen’s introduction that he is an experienced grant writer.

“He has a lot of experience in grant writing and career tech pathways that I think is going to be really helpful to our team,” she said in an April 15 article.

R-2 directors are scheduled to meet next at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 20.