FREE/NEFEC Newsletter

Foundation for Rural Education Excellence

Supporting Academic Achievement in

Rural Northeast Florida Communities

May 2022 Newsletter

The Foundation for Rural Education Excellence, a registered 501 (C)(3) organization, was founded in 1998 to facilitate philanthropic support for rural school districts of the North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC): Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Nassau, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union Counties as well as Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and PK Yonge Developmental Research School. Working collaboratively, our mission is to enhance academic success and career opportunities for rural students in northeast Florida.

Visit our website

District Admins Get Updates On FMLA and FLSA

The Department of Labor recently provided a training for HR and finance specialists in the NEFEC region.

The training consisted of two sessions. One session covered the requirements of the Family Medical Leave Act including Employer Coverage and Employee Eligibility, Qualifying Reasons for Leave, Amount of Leave, Employer & Employee Rights and Responsibilities, and Military Family Leave Provisions.

The second session covered the major provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act including minimum wage, overtime, coverage, and record-keeping.

Another Bridge to Bachelors Success Story

My name is Jessica Suttles and I am a recent graduate of Saint Leo University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.

During my time at Saint Leo, I was also working as a Paraprofessional. While I was lucky enough to have a paid position while attending college, I was admittedly struggling to pay for my portion of tuition due to my limited income. However, in the fall of my final year as a student, a huge blessing fell into my inbox. I was given the opportunity to receive a Bridge to Bachelors grant from FREE to help with my tuition and books!

There are no words to describe how this grant came at just the right time as I was making hard decisions on whether or not I could afford to continue my education. Because of this amazing opportunity, I was able to finish my degree and become a certified teacher! A HUGE thank you to FREE for your support of a future educator and helping make a dream come true!

This opportunity was made possible through a grant from the Frank V. Oliver Foundation and The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.

Title IV Support Reaching Kids In Need

NEFEC's Title IV grant is a student support and academic enrichment project intended to improve student academic achievement by increasing state and local educational agencies' capacity in the following areas:

• Providing all students with access to a well-rounded education;

• Improving school conditions for student learning to support safe and healthy schools; and

• Improving the use of technology in order to advance the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.

Those are fancy words for finding ways to support kids in need. Examples of services this year include: a regional college and career fair with over 600 students from five districts attending, 1,400 hygiene kits distributed to all member districts, Organwise Guys placements for elementary students, 1400 backpacks distributed to all member districts, support for industry certification programs, and much more. Over $77,000 in resources and supplies has been disbursed in FY 2021-2022 so far.

Way to go NEFEC Title IV! Thanks for all you do to support these kids.

Mark Your Calendars

Summer Leadership Conference

NEFEC's Annual Summer Leadership Conference is scheduled for

July 11-13, 2022, at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Registration Information

Foundation for Rural Education Excellence

(352) 317-0621

foundationruraled@gmail.com

freeneedsyou.org