Academic Booster Club presents donation as district readies Central building for 2026-27

Russ Kassin, president of the Academic Booster Club, joined Communications Coordinator Maria Langsford to present the group's history and recent activity to the Iron Mountain Board of Education on Feb. 9, 2026. They told the board that teacher requests were lower last fall and that a recent monetary donation should allow the club to support more classroom needs going forward.

Superintendent Jerry Sardina updated the board on central programming and facilities work tied to the Children's Museum vacating the Central building. Sardina outlined tasks the district plans to complete so the space will be ready to receive fourth- and fifth-grade students for the 2026-27 school year but did not provide a detailed timeline or budget in the meeting record.

Committee reports were brief: several committees had not met, the Finance Committee reported no recommendations, and the Community Schools Advisory Board reviewed minutes from its Feb. 5 meeting and had one recommendation that required full board approval (the board later acted on that recommendation by approving a hire). Student representative Di'Angelo Saldana shared a roundup of district activities during the meeting.

In informal round-table remarks, board members highlighted community resources and volunteer efforts: James Carollo noted The Wheelhouse as a new practice space for baseball and softball; Lisa Carollo thanked local organizers Bucky and Kyle Johnson for starting Snuffyball for younger children; Jennifer Solka credited Maria Langsford for promotions during School of Choice week; and Juan Saldana thanked volunteers who run district activities. The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.