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RSU 22 staff present menu of summer‑learning options; K‑5 proposal tops staff priority list
Summary
Staff offered costed options for summer programming, prioritizing K–5 low‑cost engagement (bilingual/reading activity kits and a virtual grades 3–5 program) and listing costs for middle‑school and district‑wide literacy materials.
District curriculum staff presented a menu of summer‑program options and associated cost estimates for the board to consider during FY26 budget planning.
Staff noted there is currently no summer programming funded in the FY26 draft. Presented options included K–2 activity “bingo” bags (reading, phonics, math and citizenship activities) that in prior years were funded with ESSER funds; staff estimated K–2 bags at about $3,600 (roughly $9 per student) and recommended adding pre‑K to that item if funded locally. A grades 3–5 virtual summer program (one director and one teacher to provide weekly assignments and feedback) had an estimated cost of about $4,800 under prior federal funding rates; a grades 6–8 virtual option previously served about 18 students and was estimated at about $4,000.
An in‑person middle‑school four‑week program with theme weeks (cooking, garden, STEM, etc.) had costed examples from 2023 that included transportation and staffing; that in‑person option was estimated around $8,700 in prior years but would likely be higher now. District‑wide literacy grab‑and‑go book sets for pre‑K through grade 8 were already purchased and held for distribution; staff reported those purchases totaled about $47,000 and will be distributed in June but would not be automatically funded for future years without a budget allocation.
Staff summarized three prioritized menu bundles: the K–2 bingo bags plus the grades 3–5 virtual program (~$8,400 total) as the top priority; adding the 6–8 virtual program would bring the combined estimate to about $12,400. Staff noted collective bargaining and payroll tax differences could change final salary costs if funded locally rather than with federal ESSER funds.
Several board members said they preferred allocating limited funds to K–5 programming because prior participation and measurable engagement were higher in those grades than in middle school. Staff agreed to include a summer programming ask in the next budget draft and to return with final figures for any line added to the warrant.
