Central SD 13J reviews summer-school outcomes and warns funding uncertainty could affect programs

Julie Heilman, Central School District 13J’s executive director of teaching and learning, told the board at its regular meeting that summer-school programming ended last week with steady participation but an unexpected $90,000 state shortfall.

The presentation detailed enrollment and program partnerships and noted some of the lost grant money will be paid from other grants and carryover funds; district leaders cautioned that the gap could affect future planning and carryover into the 2025–26 year.

Heilman said district planners began preparing late in the school year and budgeted for multiple grants: state summer learning funds, the district’s migrant education grant, the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding (passed through the state), the state Student Success Act funds and high-school-success grants. “We lost about $90,000 in our projected plan,” Heilman said. She described staff adjustments that preserved staffing levels and student counts while using other grant sources to cover the shortfall.

Superintendent Cease (listed in meeting discussion) added the loss was sudden: “That was not expected. It was an email that I got on a Friday, and Julie and I had to pivot pretty quickly because the next week, we were going into summer school,” and said some of the funds being used can carry into the school year.

Nut graf: The district…