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Resident urges board to recognize grant office as district reports 8,412 summer meals

Herrin Community Unit School District 4 Board of Education · June 30, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

At the June 30 meeting, a local resident praised Herrin CUSD 4's grant office for securing funds that brought pre-K, equipment and special programs to the district; trustees also recognized staff who produced 8,412 summer meals for families.

Laura Heert, a property owner and taxpayer, told the Herrin Community Unit School District 4 board on June 30 that the district's grant-writing staff deserve visible acknowledgement for bringing resources to the schools, pointing to programs and equipment funded through grants.

"We at SFTC are very proud of you and all the selfless work you do," Heert said during public comment, listing examples including pre-K, playground equipment, a driving simulator for driver education and a medication table for nursing students. She asked trustees to "please acknowledge" the grant office's contributions to the district.

Separately, the board recognized Janine Coffee and her summer-lunch staff for producing 8,412 meals to feed families across the district, an effort the superintendent described as making a "huge impact" for families facing higher food costs.

Why it matters: Grant-funded programs can expand local course offerings and equipment that district budgets alone might not support. Summer meal distribution provides food security for children and families when school is not in session.

What trustees said: Board members recorded votes on business items following the public comment but did not provide a numeric tally of grant funding during the meeting. No trustee disputed Heert's characterization; the board thanked the staff recognized for summer food service.

Next steps: Heert invited continued support and public recognition for the grant office; the board took no immediate policy action on the suggestion during the meeting.