Clinton City Schools presented details May 1 about an expanded RTA summer reading camp that district leaders said will run three weeks, provide the state-required 72 hours of instruction and include a culminating field trip to the North Carolina Aquarium.

The superintendent introduced the item; the board heard from program staff that co-directors Nicole Boykin and Daniel Strickland will lead the program, which the presentation lists as funded through grants and local partners including Simple Gifts and Level Learning grama. The camp will include 13 certified teachers, four instructional assistants who will also serve as bus drivers, 24 “Dark Horse Fellows” (eight high-school fellows per week plus six college fellows) to help in classrooms, and prioritization for third-grade students in registrations.

“Planning on a hundred this year, which will be double what it was,” co-director Nicole Boykin said, describing higher demand and near-doubling of participation compared with the prior year. Staff told the board that preliminary letters were distributed to students identified by data as needing additional reading support; the final roster will be set after state testing data is available. Parents were asked to complete permission forms or a district follow-up will be conducted for non-responding families.

Funding for the aquarium field trip and program supports is reported as provided by local partners and grant awards. Attendance and selection, the district said, will be based on student academic need with third grade given priority; the co-directors will reach out directly by ClassDojo for quick communication with parents. The camp runs 8 a.m.–3 p.m., and staff said transportation and food will be provided for attending students.

The board was briefed during the Education Spotlight segment; the item was informational and no formal board action was recorded in the meeting minutes.

Ending: District staff said they will continue registration outreach, finalize the participant list after testing results, and proceed with grant-supported activities for the summer camp.