SparkWheel tells Emporia board its student-support program delivers $400,000 in services for a $40,000 local cost share; state expansion possible

Kelly Stanford, chief program officer for SparkWheel, told the Emporia Board of Education that SparkWheel’s student support coordinators have operated in the district for eight years and provide both universal and individualized services intended to remove barriers to attendance and learning. “We work with our school partners to really identify the barriers that students are facing and support students and families so that students can be at school regularly in the best condition they can be to take advantage of what teachers and counselors and principals are working so hard to provide,” Stanford said.

Stanford said the program’s two main components are universal supports available to all students (including essential-needs items) and caseload-based individualized supports. She described a three‑year performance snapshot showing consistent results and said SparkWheel’s coordinators log the number of instances they served a student or family across the school year so the district can see the scope of need. Stanford reported the program delivers roughly $400,000 worth of supports to Emporia students and families while the district’s annual cost share is about $40,000.

Stanford said primary funding comes through a contract with the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) using TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) dollars, supplemented by local fundraising and partners such as the United Way. On possible federal funding changes, she said SparkWheel is “well positioned” as a grantee and that relationships with state executive and legislative offices make the organization cautiously optimistic it can maintain support.

Stanford also described a strategic expansion plan that would fill gaps in feeder patterns for middle-school coverage. She said the plan advanced through the Kansas House budget process with positive reception; if final state funding is enacted, SparkWheel would offer Emporia a middle-school program at the same $10,000 per‑building cost share used for other expansions. She cautioned, however, that budget outcomes can change during the legislative process.

Board members asked how SparkWheel makes referrals for services beyond the coordinators’ scope. Stanford said referrals typically go to mental‑health providers, medical assessments or other community professionals when specialized expertise is required. She added SparkWheel’s goal is to resolve recurring barriers so families do not repeatedly present the same needs.

Stanford said SparkWheel coordinates communications and student testimonials through Victoria Partridge, the group’s vice president of communications, and that staff will provide the board with additional outcome data on request.

Ending: The board heard the presentation and asked follow-up questions about referrals, funding sources and the proposed state expansion; no formal action or vote followed the presentation.