District recommends pausing traditional summer school amid low enrollment; staff propose redesign and ESY continuation

District administrators recommended pausing the district’s prior summer‑school model after noting declining participation and costs that made maintaining staffing and transportation ratios difficult. Staff stressed ESY (Extended School Year) services for special‑education students would continue and the district plans to retain high‑school credit recovery options.

Administrators said past summers funded through pandemic‑era ARP/TARP sources saw falling enrollment after the first year. With typical staffing ratios (e.g., Freshwater partnership standards and referenced 11:1 ratios) and bus costs, the district concluded it could not sustainably run the traditional program at current participation levels. A principal described prior summer days (breakfast, ELA block, math block, lunch and bus departure around noon) and said district staff will track referrals and need to decide whether to redesign summer offerings toward targeted interventions, enrichment, or a July window that would be easier for families to plan around.

Board members asked about options to keep some offerings for families who want summer support; staff said they will work with partners to explore smaller, targeted programs and to maintain relationships so that summer school can be reinstated if demand justifies it. No final vote to terminate summer programming took place; the board discussed next steps and data collection for future planning.