Impact Aid funding for YUHSD dependent upon returned forms

In order for the Yuma Union High School District to receive Impact Aid funding, families in the district must turn in a survey which will go home with students on Thursday.

Col. Robert C. Kuckuk, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, recently sent out a letter to personnel and families of MCAS Yuma encouraging them to complete and return the Federal Impact Aid Survey forms this year.

While Yuma Elementary District 1 received $581,625.43 for Impact Aid for 2011-2012, YUHSD has not been able to receive funds for the past few years due to a lack of forms being turned in.

Impact Aid provides general funds to school districts to replace lost property tax revenues due to federal property in the district. According to YUHSD, for the schools to receive Impact Aid, parents need to return the form for every student, no matter how many students in the family, and no matter whether there is a federal connection.

“We believe if all the forms are returned, the district should receive Impact Aid in the future, based on the fact that partner elementary school districts have received Impact Aid, and we share the same families,” said Toni Badone, superintendent of YUHSD.

“It is just a matter of getting all of the forms back signed by parents. If you are a parent of one or more students, please ask your student(s) for the form on Thursday, Nov. 1, and return it as soon as possible. If you are a friend or neighbor of a parent of a student, please mark your calendar and take the time to encourage them to return the form, even if they are not federally connected in any way. It helps the whole community.”

The phrase “federally connected” includes students whose parent or guardian is a civilian employee who works on federal or Indian property, for example, Yuma Proving Ground, Cocopah Casino or Border Patrol, just to name a few. It can also be any student whose parent or guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services or any student who lives on federal property, for example MCAS Yuma, Yuma Proving Ground or the Cocopah Reservation.

Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.