Montrose, CO— The Montrose Board of County Commissioners knows that our local schools are facing significant challenges in regard to facilities and capital improvements. As a result, when this year’s Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding was allocated to the county, the choice was clear—100 percent of the funds would be dedicated to help improve local educational opportunities and maximize the funding from the U.S. Forest Service Title I funds.
“The county has a long history of supporting schools with 100% of SRS funds," said Commissioner Sue Hansen. "This year was no exception, as we know that the youth of today are tomorrow's leaders. Strong school systems are essential to our community, and we are proud to help make that happen."
Montrose County School District RE-1J Superintendent Dr. Carrie Stephenson indicated that the funds will be used for outdoor learning resources and opportunities for children. “Montrose County School District prioritizes outdoor learning opportunities and strives to instill an appreciation for our wonderful Western Slope for all students. We’re grateful for Montrose County’s investment of Forest Service funds in these efforts as we work together to improve learning outcomes for the children in our community,” said Dr. Stephenson.
The funds will be distributed to Montrose County School District RE-1J ($208,254.50), West End School District RE-2 ($8,833.53), Delta County School District ($6,755.05), and Norwood School District R-2J ($2,078.48). The calculation for disbursement of the funds is based on a per pupil count of the school districts serving students within Montrose County.
The funding is derived from the Secure Rural Schools Act (SRS Act), a bill that provides funding to rural counties and schools located near national forests across the United States. Counties historically have the option of earmarking a portion of the funds to both local schools and county road and bridge operations; however, the Montrose Board of County Commissioners recognized the challenges facing local schools and dedicated the entire allotment to improving our local education infrastructure. These funds have been 100% dedicated to schools for the past several years. For more information on Montrose County, please visit montrosecounty.net.