Great Falls Tribune: School grant to help military kids adjust
The Great Falls school district was awarded a three-year, $675,000 grant Monday from the Defense Department to help children of military families adjust to frequent transfers and parents deployed overseas.
U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced the grant. Each wrote letters supporting the district’s grant application.
The grant will pay for the district’s Transition Resource Opportunities Offered to Parents and Students, or TROOPS, support program. It’s designed to “ease transitions, reduce isolation and offer coping strategies for elementary and middle school students from military families,” Tester said.
“This grant will go a long way in helping military families meet the additional needs they have when moms or dads are away serving our country,” Tester said.
“We owe a debt of gratitude not only to our service members, but also to their families who help shoulder the sacrifice,” Baucus said.
School district officials were pleased at the news.
“We are excited about this grant because military families are an important part of the Great Falls Public Schools,” said Ruth Uecker, assistant superintendent for primary grades. “This funding will allow North Middle School and Loy Elementary to ease transitions and minimize the impact of frequent moves and parent deployments on the children of military members.”
