Carbondale Elementary School District 95 awarded $5 million grant

CARBONDALE, Ill., (KBSI) — Carbondale Elementary School District 95 has received a $5 million, five-year grant to implement a community schools model aimed at increasing family involvement and building partnerships.

The Full-Service Community Schools Grant, awarded through a partnership with ACT Now, will initially fund two family resource coordinators and two family resource centers in the district.

The centers, located at Parrish Elementary School and Carbondale Middle School, will provide students and families with resources and services in five main categories: health, food insecurity, after-school programs, adult and family education, and housing stability.

The district hosted a luncheon Wednesday to announce the grant and connect with potential partners. Over 20 local organizations attended to learn about the community schools model and grant priorities.

Organizations interested in partnering with the district can contact Brooke Kensler, director of special education, at bkensler@ces95.org.