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West Point board approves Summer Academy for struggling readers, greenlights elementary playground upgrade and routine items
Summary
The West Point School Board approved funding for an eight‑day Summer Academy focused on K–7 students on reading plans, heard details about a full playground replacement at West Point Elementary, and unanimously approved routine consent and action items including the Perkins and special education plans.
The West Point School Board moved through its agenda and approved funding for a new Summer Academy aimed at re‑engaging students who struggle with reading, while also hearing plans to replace the elementary school playground.
The presenter said the Summer Academy will target K–7 students with reading plans, run an eight‑day instructional window, and include differentiated supports for English‑learners and students with disabilities. "Currently, we have 94 students on our reading plan," the presenter said, adding that about 20 staff members will be deployed to the program and Mr. Mallister will serve as the summer academy administrator.
Board members heard that the Summer Academy is designed to combine targeted remediation with engaging, theme‑based activities (the division selected the book The Islanders), virtual and in‑person partnerships — including a turtle recovery center and a wildlife rehabilitation partner — and camp‑style experiences to make reading more appealing. The presenter described plans for credit recovery for high‑school students delivered via online courses and an "alternative to retention" work‑completion model for upper middle‑school students that pairs students with interventionists to complete missing assignments.
On assessment and communication, the presenter said the division will rely on existing diagnostic data to place students and will emphasize qualitative feedback to families: "I don't want to send more of the same home saying... they're 1.8 grade levels behind," the presenter said, endorsing daily student portfolios so families can see concrete work and progress.
During the meeting Mr. Leech briefed the board on plans to replace the playground at West Point Elementary School. He said the project will "basically replace everything you see right now," adding the design emphasizes increased climbing elements, more swings, accessible features at multiple heights and a poured‑in‑place rubber surface with a cement base. Mr. Leech said the installation is expected to take about two weeks once crews begin and that the surface should last roughly 10 years with standard maintenance. He also noted the Rotary Club offered to assist with mulch work to save the division several thousand dollars.
Votes at a glance - Approve expenditures and revenue reports as presented — approved (motion and second recorded; "all in favor" voice vote). - Approve cafeteria expenditures — approved (motion and second; voice vote). - Approve personnel recommendations — approved (motion and second; voice vote). - Approve donations — approved (motion and second; voice vote). - Approve CTE Perkins plan — approved (motion and second; voice vote). - Approve special education annual plan — approved (motion and second; voice vote). - Approve student tuition renewals — approved (motion and second; voice vote).
The board did not record mover/second names or individual roll‑call tallies in the minutes for these items; the meeting record shows each motion was seconded and carried by unanimous voice vote (members responded "I").
The board set a joint session with the town for June 9 at 5:00; the location was listed as to be determined. The meeting adjourned after a brief review of future agenda items.
