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District presents middle-school 'signature' programs aimed at boosting attendance and engagement
Summary
Wicomico County Public Schools staff presented four middle-school signature programs—Young Business Leaders, WBMS broadcasting, NextGen STEM, and City Stage/Program for the Arts—highlighting improved attendance, student confidence, community partners, and plans to expand grades and countywide access over the next two years.
District staff gave a high-level overview of four middle-school signature programs designed to increase engagement and steady attendance during middle school.
Dr. Briggs opened the segment and introduced program leads. Lisa McKinnon described the Young Business Leaders cohort at Wicomico Middle School (now serving sixth and seventh grades, expanding to eighth next year), highlighting immersive business, leadership and entrepreneurship instruction and outside partnerships with Salisbury University and maker-space resources. Sherry Hawkins presented the WBMS broadcasting/media-studies program at Bennett Middle, emphasizing student development as reporters, community partnerships with WMDT and DelmarvaLife, and student work on intramurals and service-learning projects. Hema Basquaran summarized the NextGen STEM cohort model (50-student cohorts, Project Lead The Way pathways, partnerships with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and sponsored overnight experiences), and Dr. Baer outlined the newly renamed City Stage Program for the Arts with dance, theater and graphic-arts pathways and portfolio/audition-based admission.
Presenters and board members noted positive indicators: in these programs a majority of students showed improved attendance when entering sixth grade and parents report increased student confidence. District staff said transportation will be offered countywide to enable student access as programs expand, and that a lottery process applies if applications exceed capacity. Board members asked about selection criteria (academic and performance components) and space; staff said some programs use academic screeners while the arts program uses auditions or portfolio review. Several board members praised the programs and community partnerships.
Staff requested no formal action during the work session; the presentation served as an information briefing ahead of outreach and enrollment activities.
