Federal coronavirus relief funds will be historic for Mineola ISD and other districts, Superintendent Cody Mize told the District Site Based Decision Making Committee last week.

MISD stands to receive $2.4 million in the first round of funds that were recently released by the state for school districts.

Districts have never seen this kind of money in a lump sum, Mize noted.

The district has more than three years to spend the funds.

There will be stipulations, he explained.

Funds can be targeted to programs that will help students catch up who fell behind during school closures last year. They can be used for the salaries of those whose roles include this type of intervention.

The district is partnering with Next Step to have licensed professional counselors on site to offer social and emotional support to students who have been impacted.

“We need to be very wise on how we approach it,” Mize said. By targeting certain areas this money can help the district build its fund balance.

Mize advised the committee that the facility study authorized by the school board will be presented soon. In concert with that, a demographic study will be completed in the fall.

Assistant Superintendent Davis Sauer reviewed the career and technical education program, which continues to grow.

For the next school year, a fourth ag teacher will be added, the HVAC program will expand from part-time to full-time, and the welding program is also expanding.

The technology program is also changing tracks to include web design and videography.

The committee also heard a report from MISD Police Chief Cody Castleberry that Mineola and districts across the state continue to see problems with vaping among students. Education is the key, he noted. The primary issue is using vaping materials that include THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.