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Longview reports positive turnout for revamped summer “extension and connection” program
Summary
At the July 28 Longview School Board meeting, Carrie Montgomery reported on a three‑session elementary summer program emphasizing belonging and hands‑on activities; about 147 students registered, roughly 48–53 attended each session and more than 30 returned to multiple sessions.
Longview School Board members heard a report July 28 on a revamped summer extension program that focused on community integration and student belonging rather than remediation.
Carrie Montgomery, executive director of teaching and learning for Longview School District, told the board the elementary pilot met at Olympic Elementary on three Wednesdays from roughly 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with activities tied to reading, writing, math and art and integrated with the district’s gardens and community partners. "We shifted our philosophy this year and decided to offer an opportunity for students to come into the school," Montgomery said.
The nut of the program was to keep students connected to school and peers while reducing the stigma some families associate with “summer school.” Montgomery reported that 147 students registered; between 48 and 53 attended each session, and more than 30 students returned for every session. "Kids didn't know they were learning. They just enjoyed it," Montgomery said, describing teacher feedback that students were highly engaged and had few behavior issues.
Board members and staff described a theme‑based schedule (camping and desert themes among them), rotating stations in the gym and garden, and hands‑on projects such as tangram puzzles, counting collections and garden harvest activities. Students left each session with a book; Montgomery said participants took home two different books over the three sessions. The district also posted a “summer extension and connection” page linking families to district and community offerings.
Montgomery credited Amy Beeman (former director of state and federal programs), Dane Wirtz (acting administrator for summer elementary programming), teachers and community partners — including Columbia Gardens — with planning and running the pilot. Board members praised the program’s design and staff engagement; one member said partnerships must “provide quality activities” aligned with school goals.
Montgomery told the board the district will survey participating families and staff to identify improvements and to expand community partnerships for future summers. She also said the district used some federal funding sources to support program activities, enabling materials and take‑home resources for families.
The presentation was informational; no board action was required. The board indicated interest in continuing and expanding the model next year pending feedback and funding.
Ending — The district will circulate a family survey and report back to the board with evaluation results and recommendations for scaling the program before the 2026 summer season.
