District reviews homeless options

The Williston Public School District is reviewing what it can do to help meet the needs of homeless students in its schools.

School district personnel will soon receive in-services to help identify and provide services for students who don't have homes.

Pam Lambert, director of teaching and learning at Williston's Wilkinson School, recently presented a policy to the school board for consideration called the Students in Transition Policy. The policy addresses the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

After attending a conference about it the assistance act, Lambert realized this is something the community needs and the district should pursue.

"There are federal and state funds to pay for the services that we would supply to homeless youth," she said.

Lambert said homeless youth might be living with relatives or double up because they don't have another place to stay or they can't afford housing. They may be living in a motel or hotel, campground, trailer or even may live in what's considered sub-standard housing.

Lambert described those who might be transient or moving from place to place in shelters as youth who would benefit from this policy. She has already has visited with school district administrators and plans to visit with guidance counselors, food service personnel and secretaries.

"I'll be going to each of the buildings to help people understand how to identify students and then the services that we can provide," said Lambert.

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, children can receive transportation if it is needed, free meals and fees or equipment costs for extracurricular activities.

Lambert said there is currently a student who cannot afford to pay the instrument rental fee and this would be covered under the policy.

"We'll be doing some advertising in the community and we will also be identifying those people in the school system," said Lambert. "It is a rather wordy and lengthy policy, but I think it's necessary so that we let people know that this is what we're serious about."

She again mentioned this funding would come from the state.

"McKinney-Vento is a federal law. The state, through that consolidated act, has money. And then once we are identified, then there will be a certain amount of money earmarked then for the following year," said Lambert.

The first reading of the Students in Transition Policy was accepted by the board last week.