NEW ULM — The District 88 School Board unanimously approved using $3,200 of a $4,000 ISD 88 Community Education grant to Pro Kinship for Kids Thursday for summer educational field trips and NUMAS Haus totes.

Pro Kinship for Kids summer plans include trips to Franconia Sculpture Park, a 50-acre outdoor museum featuring contemporary art inspired by nature in the St. Croix River Valley and Taylors Falls Glacier Potholes, a self-guided tour of some of the world’s deepest glacier potholes.

Pro Kinship for Kids is a non-profit organization promoting youth mentoring for young people who lost a parent or need help with self esteem or socialization skills. Children are matched with carefully screened adult volunteers to develop caring, acceptance and trust.

New Ulm Pro Kinship for Kids Director Kari Beran thanked the Community Education Advisory Board for considering the youth learning opportunity request in a Feb. 27, 2025 letter.

“We like to expand our youth’s experiences. This will help them have a better quality of life today and become better contributing members of society as they feel good about themselves, and more more confident in their skills to succeed in life,” wrote Beran.

NUMAS Haus provides shelter and support services to homeless women and their children primarily in Brown County.

Approval came on a motion by board member Amanda Groebner, seconded by Melissa Sunderman.

The board unanimously approved a summer project list including about $200,000 for Washington Learning Center re-roofing, $80,000 for track and turf maintenance and a $250,000 fresh air exchange program, motion by Sunderman, second by Christie Dewanz.