Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Summer School topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Beloit outlines draft summer‑school plan after competitive grant sunset; budget near $400,000
Summary
District staff presented a draft summer school plan for June 24–July 31 with academic, enrichment and targeted 'opportunity bridges' tied to Act 20 reading requirements. With a two‑year competitive grant ended, district expects staffing‑driven costs near $400,000 and three sites across the city.
District staff presented a draft summer school plan on March 18 that would run June 24–July 31 across three sites and prioritize academics, hands‑on enrichment and reading interventions tied to state Act 20 requirements.
A district presenter said the two‑year competitive ESSER summer school grant that had contributed roughly $780,000 has ended, returning the program to pre‑grant funding structures. The district requested a budget estimate prepared by finance staff that projects total summer‑school expenses “just under $400,000,” driven primarily by staffing ratios tied to enrollment and state reimbursement rules.
The proposal uses three program “paths”: an academic path focused on literacy and math, a wellness/enrichment path that emphasizes hands‑on project work, and “equitable opportunity bridges” designed to meet the Act 20 requirement that districts offer summer programming targeting early‑reading foundations for students scoring below the 25th percentile on universal screeners and with reading plans.
Elementary programming would be offered at Todd and Converse (both K–4 sites), and the district plans to continue partnerships with Boys & Girls Club and other community organizations for bus stops and child care. Middle‑ and high‑school programs will be at Beloit Memorial High School this year (the middle/high programs were temporarily at Cunningham last year because of HVAC work at BMHS). The district will provide breakfast and lunch and will stagger staff breaks to limit burnout among teachers who are working summer sessions.
Staff emphasized that the largest variable for summer‑school cost is staffing: districts must balance student enrollment with staffing levels to remain within state reimbursement formulas. The draft schedule includes literacy and math pulls, rotations for targeted interventions, and enrichment offerings developed with community partners.
Registration is scheduled to open April 25 and will be handled online through Skyward. Officials said the draft will return to the board for final approval after staff finalize program offerings and funding details.
Speakers at the March 18 meeting emphasized the link between summer offerings and state reading requirements and the need to balance quality programming with fiscal constraints.
