Community partner says East High in-district support likely to pause after spring without new funding

Jeffrey Lewis, director of a community organization that has partnered with the Madison Metropolitan School District since 2013, told the Operations Work Group that the group has continued programming at East High School without a current contract but will likely pause school-based work around spring break unless it secures new funding.

Lewis said the organization has continued its presence at East using reserve funds after a contract lapse in August and that an application to public health for violence-prevention funds was unsuccessful. He said the group will continue community meals and monthly family supports but cannot sustain in-school staff without new revenue. “Our funds are running kinda low, and we're gonna run out of funds,” Lewis said.

Why it matters: the organization provides direct, on-campus services at East High. The loss of in-school staff could reduce wraparound support for students and families even if community events continue. Lewis encouraged board members and staff to follow up with him directly and said he would continue seeking funds to maintain services.

Lewis noted possible staff losses at his organization if the in-school work must stop, and he expressed continued commitment to partnership with MMSD. He invited questions and offered to provide more detail to district staff.

Ending: The board did not take formal action on the public comment; staff noted Lewis’s contact and the remark was entered into the meeting record for follow-up.