District 69 says federal School‑Based Mental Health grant will end; services and staffing face cuts

Superintendent Dr. Margaret Clauson and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Megan Aseltine told the Board that the district received a letter dated April 29, 2025 notifying the District that its SBMH grant will not be continued. The administration summarized the letter's language: "The grant is inconsistent with, and no longer effectuates, the best interest of the Federal Government and will not be continued." The district said the grant originally provided roughly $7.3 million over five years to expand school‑based mental‑health staffing and services.

District leaders said the late notification will have operational impacts: the statutory deadline to reduce certified staffing passed on April 15, 2025, so the district must locally fund certified staff for the second half of 2025‑26; social work and school psychologist interns slated for Fall 2025 were notified the district cannot guarantee a full paid internship; some non‑certified SBMH positions already have been reduced and further reductions are being considered. Administration said it will continue to analyze the fiscal and service impacts and will work to minimize student impacts.