SUPERINTENDENT NEWSLETTER
Dear FSD Staff & Families,
A Strong Start to the Year
We're two weeks into the school year, and I couldn't be prouder of how our schools have come together. Across all nine of our buildings, administrators and staff have worked hard to keep things running smoothly, both for the safety of our students and for the strong academic environments they deserve. Like any start to a school year, the first few days brought a few glitches that our administrators worked quickly to iron out. That kind of steady, behind-the-scenes work doesn't always get noticed, but it matters, and I see it.
We've also had a wonderful run of open houses and back to school nights. Seeing parents walk through our doors, meet their child's teachers, and get a feel for the classroom is exactly what we hope for. Home and school work best as partners, not separate worlds, and nights like these remind us why that partnership matters so much.
Fall sports are underway, and it's been great watching our Pretzels take the field, the court and the pool this month. There's something special about game days that brings our community together in a way nothing else quite does.
This year, we're continuing our focus on one of the four priorities in our three-year strategic plan, All In for All Kids: Fiscal Resourcefulness. Part of being a responsible steward of district resources is understanding where our funding actually comes from, including state reimbursements for things like transportation and meals. Like most Illinois districts, we're only reimbursed for a portion of what we spend in these areas:
Special Education Transportation: 55%
Regular/Vocational Transportation: 68%
Special Education Tuition: 63%
Lunch/Breakfast: 93%
These are statewide funding formulas, not something unique to Freeport, but they still shape how we plan our budget every year. As you can see, reimbursement rates below 100% will continue to create challenges for us as a district. Being upfront about them is part of how we stay good stewards of your tax dollars and make sure every resource we do have goes toward supporting our students the best way we can.
This Future Focused season is a great reminder of why we do this work. I'm grateful for a community that shows up for our kids the way Freeport does, and I'm excited for everything still ahead of us this year.
A Century of Pride, Tradition & Pretzel Spirit
This year marks an extraordinary milestone for Freeport High School—100 years! Since opening its doors at our current location in 1926, FHS has been more than a school. It has been a place where generations of Pretzels have learned, grown, built friendships, discovered their talents, and created memories that have become part of Freeport’s story.
On Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., we invite alumni, families, students, staff, former staff, and the entire Freeport community to come together on the Mosley Street lawn at Freeport High School for a Centennial Celebration 100 years in the making!
Throughout the afternoon, guests will have an opportunity to step inside the history of FHS with guided building tours, historical displays filled with memories from across the decades, and special speakers who have played an integral role in the story and legacy of Freeport High School. It will be a wonderful opportunity for alumni to return to familiar halls, reconnect with classmates and former colleagues, and see how FHS has grown while continuing traditions that have connected generations of Pretzels.
And because no birthday celebration is complete without food and music, the Centennial will also feature live bands and food trucks, creating a festive atmosphere for our community to gather, reminisce and celebrate together.
Whether you graduated from FHS decades ago, currently have a student walking its halls, work or worked within its walls, or simply call Freeport home, you are part of this story.
One century. One community. One Pretzel.
This promises to be one 100th birthday celebration you don't want to miss!
New office strengthens support and engagement across FSD 145
Freeport School District 145 has launched its new Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) Office, operating directly under the Superintendent’s Office. Designed as a lean, direct-report team, F.A.C.E. was created to provide consistent support across all nine schools, connect families with resources and strengthen partnerships between home, school and the greater Freeport community.
The mission of F.A.C.E. is simple but important: to build meaningful partnerships that empower every student to thrive. The team works to connect families to resources, remove barriers, create opportunities for engagement and ensure families feel welcomed, valued, supported and connected to their child’s education. Their first public event was a Drive-Thru Backpack Giveaway on August 6th. F.A.C.E. distributed 400 supply filled backpacks to FSD students and their families. Hotdogs and chips to go were served to all who drove through.
Leading this work is F.A.C.E. Coordinator Vache` Fleming, along with Mia Hilton, Secretary/Administrative Support, and Jacqueline Marin, Bilingual Family Engagement Liaison.
FACE Drives Into Action with Community Backpack Giveaway
Their first public event was a Drive-Thru Backpack Giveaway on August 6th. F.A.C.E. distributed 400 supply filled backpacks to FSD students and their families. Hotdogs and chips to go were served to all who drove through.
Coming in October! Beginning next month, each edition of All In: The Pretzel Pulse will take you Inside 145, spotlighting a school or district department and the people, programs and services that make it an important part of FSD 145.
From our classrooms to the work happening behind the scenes, every school and department plays a role in fulfilling our mission of All In For All Kids. We look forward to helping you learn more about the many parts of our district—and how they work together to serve our students, families and community.
