Forty-five percent of Swan River School’s students qualify for free and reduced lunch programs, though that doesn’t necessarily mean more funding for the school.

However, it does mean the school could apply for a schoolwide Title I program, which could mean more academic assistance for struggling students.

But, SRS Principal Marc Bunker and the school’s only Title I teacher, Janet Bones, doubt it would be the best move for the school.

“My understanding is we won’t get more funding and it may not be better for our school,” Bunker said.

SRS is currently classified as a “targeted assistance” Title I school, meaning they offer extra help to students struggling with reading and math. Bones said transitioning into a schoolwide program would allow more subjects to be covered but wouldn’t mean more staff or funds to do it.

“The catch here is the lowest performing students have to have services first,” Bones said.

The goal for the program is to help struggling students become independent learners, and since all subjects tie back into reading that is their primary focus along with math.

Title I funding is based on the number of students on free and reduced lunch and the poverty level of the district.

According to Trustee Dawn Dowellgrim the number of students on free and reduced lunch was once 18 percent. That number is currently at 71 out of the school’s 156 students, or 45 percent.

Bones said the formula for determining who gets Title I funding and how much fluctuates each year, so even though district clerk Dee Johnson said their current number of students on free and reduced lunch has remained steady, they can’t rely on the same amount of funding in upcoming years.

Bones said the Montana Office of Public Instruction is anticipating reductions in Title I funding for next year’s budget. The future of Montana’s Title I schools’ funding will be determined in April.

Other SRS news

There will be an open public assembly with Special Olympics athlete Chrissy Siefke to “spread the word to end the word” called “The ‘R’ Word,” on March 6 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 837-4528.