MONROE — Parkside Elementary School Principal and Summer School Coordinator Todd Paradis recapped this year’s summer school program at the Monroe School Board meeting Sept. 23.
This year’s two sessions saw 1,145 participants and also included 141 staff members. Of the 98 classes offered, 19 of them were new, including Cartooning 101, Poetry 101 and Fun Around the World.
Hours of operation for the library during the summer were changed for 2019; it was open only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but for the complete half-day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Paradis said they saw higher participation and more books checked out.
Parent surveys revealed that nearly 88% were satisfied or very satisfied with their student’s overall summer school experience. Lower levels of satisfaction — just over 57% satisfied or very satisfied — were reported for the pick-up and drop-off procedures and the help available.
Improving pick-up and drop-off is among parent suggestions, along with more course offerings for older children.
The latter is limited by the number of instructors, especially during the second session, which is the less popular choice among staff, Paradis said.
One thing discussed Monday that might mitigate that problem is altering the schedule, with variables including the number of weeks in a session and hours of instruction per day, but such changes weren’t formally considered.
In other matters, the board:
● Approved several donations, including Walmart gift cards to all schools from the United Methodist Church Mission Committee, and several donations to Back Pack Buddies: Colony Brands ($10,495.80); United Methodist Church ($500); United Methodist Church ($20); Darlene Murphy ($25); Dwayne Isely ($100); John and Jan Hay ($20); St. John’s United Church ($400); Joanne hare ($40).
● Heard a report from Monroe Middle School principal Brian Boehm on the school’s successful Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate, widely known as the ALICE drill. Boehm said there were “no obvious areas in need of improvement.”
● Heard from a concerned parent inquiring about high school air quality. District Administrator Rick Waski said that tests were done in late August and he would check on the results.