Promising Futures expands college-and-career advisers across Sioux Falls schools

Promising Futures told the Sioux Falls School District board it will expand a college-and-career access program that piloted at Jefferson High School, introduce a district director and staff 12 advisers across the district’s four high schools.

Steve Hildebrand, representing Promising Futures, said the community nonprofit funded a pilot with a $400,000 gift last year and provided an additional large donation presented to district leadership to fund program expansion and staffing. He introduced Brian Aerman as the district’s new director of college and career access.

Dan Conrad, who presented the one‑year outcome report, said advisers worked directly with 220 seniors, helped 128 students complete the FAFSA and assisted 42 parents with FAFSA filings. He said the district’s senior FAFSA completion rate rose to 54.5% this year, an increase of 8.8 percentage points over the prior year.

Conrad and Hildebrand described other services advisers provided in the pilot year: assistance with college and technical school applications, scholarship support, 46 job‑shadow placements, work on about 39 seniors’ job applications and coordination of college visits and employer contacts. The program also connected 14 seniors with military recruiters.

District and Promising Futures leaders said expansion will prioritize students who are first‑generation to college and students from low‑income households; advisers will also serve any student who needs support. The board was told Promising Futures will allocate advisers to schools accounting for free/reduced‑price lunch rates and each school’s college‑going patterns.

Dan Conrad described follow‑up plans to boost college retention: advisers and the new director will maintain summer contact with matriculating students, host pre‑term seminars and check in midsemester to link students to campus supports.

The board acknowledged the report by voice vote. Promising Futures asked community members interested in donating or applying for adviser positions to visit promisingfuturesfund.org; the district plans to post additional job openings on its site.