At the Board Meeting on Monday, July 19, the Board selected Mark Schroeder to serve as an Interim Board Member. Mark will be officially seated on September 7 following the required 30-day waiting period. A special election to fill the seat through the end of 2022 will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Full details about the special election are available on our website.

The Board also approved moving forward with strategic planning efforts. This is an opportune time to address strategic planning, as COVID relief funding can be used to support our work creating a comprehensive strategic plan process that will help guide our district forward. Staff, families, students, and the community will all have the opportunity to provide feedback on the plan. Additional information will be made available this fall.

A recording of the meeting is available on our website.

Last year, we saw a significant decrease in our Educational Benefits (formerly Free & Reduced) applications. This resulted in less funding from the federal government, putting a strain on an already tight budget. Plus, we know that because of the pandemic many families in our schools are seeing more financial hardships.

Both families and schools benefit from a successful Educational Benefits application. Each approved application brings in an additional $1,400 for our schools! Plus families receive benefits beyond meals, like discounts on fees for college applications, activities and athletics, and even some Community Education classes.

This year we’re counting on you to help identify families in need. Meals will again be provided at no cost to all families as a part of our COVID funding, so we need your help informing families of other benefits.

The application process is easier than ever. It’s more than a meal application, it’s interventions, academic supports, and needed discounts for families. You can help families apply at www.isd318.org/edubenefits.