LM April 2026 - PUBLIC

News In Brief

A Note of Gratitude Dear Colleagues, I am deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from the IASA family following the storms that took our home earlier this year. When you are standing in the middle of a devastating loss, it is easy to feel alone. But the generosity of my colleagues across Illinois reminded me that I am anything but. Your donations, messages, and prayers carried my family through some of our most challenging days. I have spent my career in public education because I believe in the power of community. What you showed me — and my family — is that the IASA community is something truly special. You showed up when it mattered most, and we will never forget it. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Shannon Anderson, Superintendent, Momence CUSD #1

Shannon Anderson

Applications Open for 2026 Illinois Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), in partnership with Governor JB Pritzker, today announced that applications are now open for the 2026 Illinois Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools program. The state-led initiative continues the long-standing tradition of recognizing schools that demonstrate academic excellence or make significant progress in closing achievement gaps. After the U.S. Department of Education abruptly ended the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program in 2025, Illinois established the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools program to ensure that the accomplishments of students, educators, and school communities continue to be honored. Click here to learn more. Free Webinar: AI Weapon Detection in Illinois Schools — May 6 Your cameras are already watching. Volt AI makes them intelligent. Join IASA on Wednesday, May 6 at 10 a.m. for a spotlight webinar on Volt AI, a platform that transforms your existing security cameras into real-time threat detection systems — identifying weapons, fights, medical emergencies, and unauthorized access, while tracking threats across your campus even after a weapon is concealed. You’ll hear from Dr. Joe Salmieri, superintendent of Laraway CCSD 70C, on what Volt looks like in a real Illinois district — plus a senior Volt executive who will walk through implementation, costs, and how the system works.

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