Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Teacher urges district access to IXL; volunteer asks board to waive facility fees for Girls on the Run
Loading...
Summary
At public comment, a Cherry View third-grade teacher asked the board to provide district access to the IXL digital learning platform to support multilingual learners and individualized practice; a volunteer coach requested the board waive facility-use fees for Girls on the Run, citing equitable access and neighboring districts that waive fees.
Jana Spanovich, a third‑grade classroom teacher at Cherry View Elementary, told the ISD 194 school board on April 28 that elementary classrooms lack a digital, adaptive tool for individualized practice and urged the district to provide access to IXL.
"IXL is a comprehensive K‑12 digital learning platform that supports instruction in math, language arts, and more," Spanovich said. She described IXL’s adaptive practice, real‑time data and alignment with state and district standards and said it helps students "exactly where they are and helps them grow." She estimated an annual cost of about "$5 to $10 per student" and suggested the district explore alternative funding, grants or PTO support for the current year budget.
Spanovich argued the program would particularly help students with limited English proficiency and newly arrived students who need individualized supports and said it would reduce reliance on paper materials.
The board took no action during public comment. Later in the meeting board members discussed districtwide technology, budget constraints and the need for data to guide any purchase.
Also during public comment, Shalom Ewald, a district employee and volunteer coach for the Girls on the Run after‑school program, asked the board to waive facility‑use fees for the volunteer‑run program. Ewald argued the program aligns with district goals around social and personal readiness, operates at no cost to the district, and uses a "pay what you can" model to ensure access for families.
"Waiving these fees would be a meaningful way for Lakeville Area Schools to demonstrate its commitment to being both community connected and student focused," Ewald said, asking the board to consider the program’s mission alignment and the comparative practices of neighboring districts.
The board did not vote on either request at the meeting and indicated follow‑up would occur through administrative channels or future budget discussions.
