School Board Approves New Summer Session Policy

The Board of Education recently approved a new policy to potentially conduct a summer session for students.

“We reinstituted the option of having summer courses,” Board President Jack Martenak said. “We didn’t have it for a period of time. It will give students the opportunity to make up courses or take additional courses.”

The summer session may include remedial courses for students who wish to retake a course as well as advanced and enrichment courses. The enrichment courses would be of a vocational interest and would not be worth credits.

To be enrolled in a remedial course, students would need a written recommendation from the Principal of his or her school. Students would not be required to attend the summer session but could be promoted to the next grade level, if originally retained, upon successful completion.

The summer session would be staffed with teachers from the schools, Martenak said.

The classes would be funded in the school district budget for additional classes that are held after school. There’s a line item for after school instruction, he said.

Tuition could be charged to nonresident students enrolled in a course and resident students enrolled in enrichment courses.

Martenak could not confirm the cost of running such a program or further details.

The school district still needs to develop a plan, he said.

According to the policy, Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower will be responsible for developing a summer session program and submitting it for the board’s approval.

The plan would include details such as a list of courses offered, hours of operation, where the summer session will be held, if any tuition fees will be associated and the projected cost of the operation.

Brower would also be responsible for developing regulations for the summer session including provisions for appropriate planning, proper staffing, pupil assignments, pupil evaluation, pupil records, award of credit, grade placement and the utilization of facilities.

Brower said the summer session program is state mandated and declined to comment any further.