RSU 22 outlines summer Extended School Year services, attendance and staffing

Christie Babin, director of special services for RSU 22, described the district's Extended School Year (ESY) program and summer staffing levels during the school board meeting.

Babin told the board ESY provides specially designed instruction and related services required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for students whose Individualized Education Program teams determine they need summer services to prevent significant regression. "It is not the same as summer school," she said, adding that ESY is intended to maintain skills rather than teach new ones.

The district identified 64 students districtwide as eligible for ESY this past summer; 43 participated, Babin said. Average daily attendance during ESY was about 64 percent. Fifteen students required one-to-one support from educational technicians, and the district staffed 15 educational technicians to meet those needs. Babin said the director and assistant director made regular site visits during the program.

Babin described the kinds of services offered: direct academic instruction in literacy and math, related services such as speech and language and occupational therapy, social skills instruction and behavioral supports, and specialized transportation when required by a student's IEP. She said the program was designed to be flexible and individualized, including small-group activities and community-based lessons such as a supervised walk to a grocery store to practice math and literacy skills.

For next summer, RSU 22 plans to assign Pam Fox, assistant director, to coordinate ESY on site daily to support teams and families. Board members asked logistical questions about session length and locations; Babin said programs ran Monday through Thursday, with some students attending four weeks and others six, and that programming was housed at Hampton Academy with district transportation provided.

Board members raised concerns about participation barriers and access for students from other schools; Babin said transportation was provided and that centralizing ESY at a single site helped staffing and safety.

Babin emphasized family partnership as a strength of RSU 22's ESY implementation, noting pre-summer contacts with families and ongoing communication during the program to ensure parents understood transportation and schedules.

The presentation closed with the board thanking Babin and asking no additional action; the district will implement the coordinator change and continue to report on ESY operations.