Trustees split over rec‑district role in funding Teton Literacy Center; board recommends $15,000 after debate

Anna Zolay (representing the Teton Literacy Center) told the board the center is requesting $15,000 to support an expanded 8‑week full‑day summer program that will serve up to 85 students and that the organization had over 100 students on its waitlist. Zolay said the program is free to families and is stepping in as the district has reduced summer‑school offerings.

Trustees debated whether literacy and academic programs fall within the recreation district’s statutory responsibility to fund recreation. Trustee Bosch and others argued that teaching reading is critical and that the program provides important academic support; Bosch urged the board not to limit the request at this stage and asked the center to return with detailed needs. Other trustees pushed back that the rec district’s core duty is recreation and that larger school‑board discussion and funding mechanisms may be more appropriate.

After discussion and an amendment clarifying the recommendation, the board voted to recommend up to $15,000 to the school board by a 4–1 margin. Trustees noted the recommendation will allow the school board to consider a larger conversation about district‑level summer programming and funding.

The transcript records extensive trustee discussion on access, lottery‑based enrollment and the literacy center’s use of teacher recommendations and socioeconomic criteria to prioritize students. The rec district’s recommendation does not itself allocate funds; the school board will consider the recommendation in its budget process.