Board approves 2025 summer programs: intro to kindergarten, K–4, middle/high programs, RISE, drivers ed and SPA

The Grand Forks Public Schools board on April 28 approved the district’s 2025 summer programming after presentations from administrators and program directors describing dates, sites and enrollment to date.

District staff described programs that run chiefly in June. Intro to kindergarten (a 60-hour, state-funded program) is scheduled July 28–Aug. 15 with 15 half-day sessions; presenters said registration was at 219 as of the meeting and that several sites would be relocated temporarily because of building construction. Elementary summer school for current kindergarten through fourth graders runs June 2–20 with 60 instructional hours and breakfast/lunch at qualifying sites; presenters reported 583 students registered across sites as of the meeting.

Encore, an afternoon program to extend summer school days, will operate from 12:30–5:30 p.m. June 2–20 at three locations (Century, Ben Franklin and Phoenix) to provide lunch and enrichment opportunities. High school summer school at Red River is scheduled June 2–July 9 with two semesters of offerings and had roughly 343 students enrolled in core classes at the time of the presentation; staff said credit-recovery options and online coursework through the North Dakota Center for Distance Education will be available. Middle-school summer programs (South, Schrader and Twining) were presented with differing durations; South and Schrader will run four weeks with current enrollment increases reported and Twining to run at its home site.

The district’s RISE program at Valley Middle School, a five-week intensive literacy and confidence-building model developed with a community partner, was also summarized; leaders said enrollment has grown in the program’s multi-year run. The district also presented plans for driver’s education (about 300 students anticipated, fee increased to $350) and the Summer Performing Arts Company (SPA), which reported 865 registrations across programming and noted donor-funded financial assistance for families.

Administrators said some program sites were shifted temporarily because of construction projects and that state funding requirements—such as minimum instructional hours for the intro-to-kindergarten program—shaped schedules. The board approved the summer programming as presented on a voice roll-call vote (Larson absent). Presenters said the summer programs require board approval in order to file required state MISO/summer-school forms.

Actions: Board motion to approve the summer programming was moved by board member Paul Cleven and seconded by Dr. Hodak; roll call recorded the motion as passed with one member absent.