McFarland updates final year of five-year equity grant as district assumes mentoring circles

McFarland School District board members received an update Feb. 3 on the district’s five-year equity grant and were told leadership of student mentoring circles is shifting from the community partner to district staff for sustainability.

The update, delivered by Christine Deck, focused on five grant goals including student mentoring circles for grades 3–12, staff leadership development, district-level inquiry and evaluation, expanded professional development and family/community engagement. Deck said the partners designed the grant to address reported gaps in belonging among Black students and to create changes intended to outlast the grant period. “What we wanted to do with this grant … is to make some long lasting and substantial changes that impact, not just our African American students but all of our students,” Deck said.

Board members were told about several operational changes that begin this year: mentoring circles — previously run primarily by Natural Circles of Support — are transitioning to district leadership, with Brittany Bridal, the district’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging coordinator, taking primary responsibility. Deck said about 34 students participate at any given time across buildings and that the mentoring circles are being intentionally connected to building staff by sharing themes and learnings in weekly staff newsletters.

The presentation described a move from separate equity action teams toward embedding equity work in building leadership teams. The district also plans to expand “tier 1” universal instructional practices — described in the presentation as foundational, non-curricular delivery practices intended to improve climate and belonging for all students — while continuing optional seminars and teacher study groups for deeper work.

Evaluation will ramp up in the final year, officials said. The district will run student and staff surveys, repeat administrator interviews, and hold focus groups with the family/community group that has advised the work. Deck and the project evaluator said they will prepare an annual report and a final write-up of findings on what the grant achieved, barriers encountered and lessons learned, with a culminating report expected January 2026.

Board members asked how the grant work links with existing multi-tier intervention systems. Deck said tier 2 and tier 3 interventions continue to be available for students who need them, but the district is prioritizing strengthening tier 1 practices so more students experience success earlier. The presentation also noted the project’s explicit sustainability plan: district staff will lead mentoring circles going forward while Natural Circles of Support will remain available for consultation.

Deck said district and partner staff will continue work on professional development, building leadership, family engagement (through the McFarland Schools Equity Collective) and the year-end evaluation activities. The board was told the partners will return with a midyear update in June and the final analysis in late 2025 or January 2026.

Board members expressed general support and asked about possible follow-on funding; presenters said sustainability was planned into the grant and that future grant opportunities had not yet been identified.

Ending — The board did not take formal action on the grant at the Feb. 3 meeting; presentation materials and future reports will return to the board during the grant’s final year.