The Norwich Public School District cancelled its summer school program after state legislators failed to pass a budget.
The fiscal year ends today and school district officials have yet to get a guarantee that they will receive a $110,000 priority school grant, which is used to provide summer school for kindergarten, first and second graders to help improve their reading and math skills. It was scheduled to be held at Kelly Middle School from July 17 through Aug. 4.
Tom Baird, the director of curriculum, said he feels it would be irresponsible to hope and plan on continuances that might not come through this year.
“This year our local budget has been cut $1.5 million, we don’t know about our alliance grant from the state, our Title One funding could be reduced from the federal government. So all of the grants that we would use to cover if this grant didn’t come in, there’s just too much uncertainly with those funds,” said Baird.
Baird said making the decision to cancel summer school was especially frustrating because the district recently made improvements to the program.
“We saw that by providing intervention in a smaller group that kids were making up some of their learning gaps much faster than they were at our old summer school model. So we’re very frustrated and disappointed we’re not going to be able to continue,” Baird said.
Cancelling the program will affect 120 students and 18 staff members.
Local
Students do have the option to attend an extended learning summer program from July 10 through Aug. 11 at a cost of $125 per week.
“I could afford it, I could do it. But I don’t think a lot of families around here could afford it, no way. It’s a really big hardship,” said a parent of an incoming first grader who did not want to be identified.
Baird said he is still holding out hope that the state will come through with the grant and they will be able to reinstate the summer school program.
These changes will not affect any special education summer programs.
