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Madison board announces $1.248 million United Way grant to fund five-week Summer Discovery for 650 students
Summary
The Board heard an administration report that United Way awarded $1,248,000 to the district to run a five-week Summer Discovery program for up to 650 K–rising 9 students; the superintendent said the grant requires no district funding and detailed budget line items, staffing ratios and planned field trips.
The Madison District Public Schools Board of Education heard an administration report that the district has received official United Way grant documentation totaling $1,248,000 to run a five-week Summer Discovery program for K through rising 9 students.
The superintendent summarized the program scope and logistics, saying the award covers programming for 650 students, with orientations and confirmations planned after June 15. She said registration exceeded spots on the Google form—670 families applied—and the district is maintaining a waitlist while confirming attendance.
The district intends to run the program in-house rather than contracting services. The superintendent said the grant budget includes a personnel allocation of $485,000 (with $161,000 earmarked as fringe benefits), $66,950 for supplies and incentives, $187,000 listed for additional equipment (computers and STEM supplies), $45,000 for enrichment services (field trips), $10,000 for transportation fuel, $30,000 for snacks, $40,000 for media/communications and an indirect operating reimbursement line (the transcript repeats a $187,000 figure associated with indirect costs). She told trustees that, as written, the grant will not require district funds up front and can reimburse facility and utility costs used during the program weeks.
The superintendent described the student experience: four virtual family orientations, early morning latchkey beginning as early as 7:00 a.m., five field trips (including a movie, the Detroit Zoo, bowling, skating and a Detroit River riverboat ride during the Fourth of July week), and curriculum alignment with Bridges resources already planned for summer discovery to ensure consistency with in-year instruction.
Trustees asked about capacity and staffing; the superintendent said the program is designed with an 18:1 student-to-staff ratio and that the district is recruiting paraprofessionals and additional teachers (the district reported having sufficient applicants but still seeks about eight teachers). She also described incentive strategies (weekly bike raffles for perfect attendance and a dinner partnership with a local restaurant, which the district will coordinate rather than purchase gift cards).
Next steps: the superintendent will finalize confirmations after the June 15 orientation deadline, complete hiring for open paraprofessional and teacher roles, and post logistics (field trip schedules, bussing, and orientation times) to families as planned.
The report contained program-level budget figures and operational details provided by the superintendent; board members did not ask for formal action on the grant at this meeting.
