Board hears why Project Extra funding changes affect Elm Street band dinners and how staff plan to respond
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Summary
District staff explained that changes in grant and reimbursement rules mean Elm Street and Pleasant Street no longer qualify for dinner reimbursements; band students previously counted under Project Extra must now be supervised by band teachers through 5 p.m.; staff outlined logistical options including pantry/donations and possible site changes.
During the superintendent'level report, district staff told the board that a change in how the 21st-century/"20 first century" grant and USDA reimbursement are applied means Elm Street is no longer eligible for reimbursed dinners under the grant, and Project Extra can no longer absorb non-enrolled band students.
Speaker 6 said that historically some band students who practiced at Elm Street were included in Project Extra counts, but the programs are actually separate and the grant "is not allowed to provide dinner," so the district separated snack/dinner eligibility. "Because Elm Street is no longer eligible for the USDA program for the district to be reimbursed, the grant can't pick that up," Speaker 6 said.
Practical effects: Staff said Project Extra enrollment caps (about 50 students per program) and band growth (about 130 students practicing at Elm at times) created a funding mismatch. As a result, band teachers will supervise students through 5:00 PM, the district increased band-teacher contracts for staffing coverage, and administrators are reviewing schedule changes and bus routing implications.
Board members asked whether hosting band at a different school (for example Woodland Heights) would allow those students to remain eligible for dinner under Project Extra; staff replied eligibility depends on where a student is formally enrolled and on logistical limits such as bus routing.
Mitigation steps and community supports: Staff said they will collect participation data, consult families and explore short-term supports such as a Project Extra pantry at Elm and Pleasant to provide grab-and-go items, request donations, and examine potential grant or donation funding to expand coverage. The district also plans to reach out to families directly when needed.
What remains unresolved: The board asked for clarity about student eligibility across buildings, how to handle students arriving from other schools on band days, and whether program location moves are feasible given transportation constraints. Staff said those items require further logistical study and potential budgeting during the upcoming fiscal process.