The students involved expressed the emotional rewards they experienced through their philanthropic efforts. One student articulated the profound impact of their actions, stating, “You get so feelings in your body that just makes you like want to do it again,” underscoring the satisfaction derived from helping others. The club’s future plans include donating games to a local food shelf and organizing a wrapping party to prepare these gifts for distribution.

A notable educational experience was presented by Mrs. Ru, who provided an in-depth report on a recent school trip to Costa Rica. This bi-annual trip, which featured 23 students and three chaperones, offered significant educational and cultural insights for participants. Mrs. Ru emphasized the immersive nature of the experience, which allowed students to practice Spanish in real-world contexts and exposed them to cultural differences. One student, despite a nut allergy, was able to taste the cocoa plant for the first time, describing the experience as “so cool.”

Students also engaged in activities like snorkeling and a night walk in a jungle during a torrential downpour. The trip’s success was highlighted through student thank-you notes addressed to the school board and administration, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and the personal growth they experienced.

The meeting also covered various administrative and educational topics. The board approved the 2024 payable 2025 levy certification, totaling $2,489,412.07, following a roll call vote where all directors were in favor. This financial decision was made without further discussion.

Enrollment updates were provided by the elementary and high school principals. The elementary school saw a slight decrease from 355 to 351 students due to family relocations, while the high school reported an increase of two students, attributed to new families moving into the district. Both principals highlighted ongoing initiatives and events, including recent Christmas concerts and an upcoming elementary sing-along.

In a move to enhance student learning, discussions were held about transitioning from the existing Plato credit recovery program to the Excelis program. Excelis offers recorded lessons with follow-up Q&A and AI reinforcement for foundational concepts, which could provide advantages over the self-taught nature of the current program.

Safety and planning were also prioritized, with the crisis team meeting to review building safety protocols in collaboration with local police and fire departments. Additionally, the board discussed efforts to refine course offerings for the upcoming academic year as part of the 2526 master schedule.

The board expressed optimism about grant applications submitted to the Department of Natural Resources for a No Child Left Inside grant, which aims to enhance outdoor learning opportunities. If approved, the $25,000 requested would support initiatives designed to enrich the curriculum with outdoor activities.