shares. These programs cultivate these traits while encouraging students to contribute to the local community. McKeen emphasizes that such initiatives are possible thanks to the many local businesses dedicated to supporting students. “They make our community a wonderful place to live,” she adds. INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE The district has strategically invested a portion of its $17 million in federal ESSER grant money to create outdoor and flexible learning spaces during the pandemic. McKeen notes these spaces, initially for open-air learning, are now multi-use and accessible to the community. Reed adds, “we also invest in tutoring and additional instruction that helps close the gap with the learning loss students experienced during the pandemic.” “I think this district and this community have 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 01 RUTLAND CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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