ORANGE — Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District has received $279,468 as part of the state’s Rural School Aid grant program for the 2020 fiscal year, according to state Sen. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer.
“I was glad to advocate for this extra assistance during Senate budget deliberations, and I’ll continue to work toward including more towns that are facing declines in enrollment and the financial burdens that it brings,” said Gobi, who announced the grants from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education last Thursday.
A total of 34 school districts, all located in Western and Central Massachusetts or on Cape Cod, received a combined $2.5 million through the grant program, which targets rural schools facing increased costs — in areas like transportation, for example — compared to their urban counterparts.
Along with Mahar, Quabbin Regional School District received $200,147; Tantasqua Regional School District received $165,736; Brimfield Public Schools received $64,864; Wales Public Schools received $52,740; Brookfield Public Schools received $28,518; Holland Public Schools received $15,649; and Petersham Public Schools received $14,114.