Colleen Ranzan, president of the Vernon Township Education Association, told the Vernon Township Board of Education at its Jan. 16 public meeting that the union has secured grant funding and is sponsoring a range of extracurricular and literacy programs for district students.

Ranzan said the union obtained $44,000 in funding in 2022–23 and $43,600 in 2023–24, and that it is “on track to provide over 4,000 in funding for these vital programs and activities” in the current year. She listed sports scholarships, game nights, literacy nights, a trick-or-trail, a turkey trot, the Rolling Hills mentoring program, math nights and STEM nights among events supported by the grants.

The VTEA president credited two staff members, identified in her remarks as Miss Lombardi and Miss Munchauer, for writing and securing many of the awards. “The grants we secure make it all possible,” Ranzan said.

Ranzan said the association also sponsors the Mind Travelers Library Fund, a long-standing reading incentive program, and has supported events such as Art Standing, which showcases student artwork. She described additional planned events including international nights and more STEAM- and literacy-focused evenings.

Superintendent Rogers thanked Ranzan and VTEA members during the meeting, saying the board and administration value the supplementary programming and volunteer efforts that “keep our kids engaged and involved in our schools.”

Ranzan also described classroom-level supports she provides as an educator, including work in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and an ERI program she said helps keep students in-district.

The board did not take any formal action on the presentation; the remarks were listed as a presentation (Item J) on the agenda and recorded during the public portion of the meeting.