Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Two 2021 summer learning sessions are planned for Dare County Schools students.

At the May 11 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent John Farrelly detailed those summer sessions and how $7.5 million will be used over the next three years to tackle pandemic learning loss among students.

The two sessions run for a total of 30 days. Registration online remains open.

Generally, students in grades K through 8 will studying reading, math and science.

High school students will be provided in-person instruction in end-of-course subjects, access to modules and teacher support for credit recovery and given various opportunities to expand curriculum knowledge through project-based experiences.

The first session runs for a half day from 8 a.m. to noon on June 14-17, 21-24, 28-29. Remediation on end-of-grade or end-of courses tests will be the focus.

In both sessions, breakfast, lunch, physical activity and transportation will be provided.

The second session, called Summer Bridge, operates July 19 – Aug. 13, 2021, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Core instruction is to be offered during part of the day and STEAM enrichment activities in the latter part of the day.

The summer programs are to be offered at Cape Hatteras, First Flight, Kitty Hawk and Manteo elementary schools and Cape Hatteras Secondary, First Flight Middle and High schools and Manteo Middle and High schools. Depending on demand, these sites may be combined.

Some 170 Dare teachers have applied to work during the summer sessions.

Registered as of May 11 are 450 students. Of those, 138 are currently in the Spanish immersion program, which will be offered with core content in Spanish.

The After School Enrichment Program for students in K through 5 will be offered, depending on demand, from 3 to 6 p.m. with typical fees.

Farrelly presented his plan for using Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief funding. The plan is out for review by Dare teachers. The public will also have a chance to review and comment on the plan.

Overall, $5.5 million – or 74% of the available funds – will be used to hire 20 teachers, who will be told the job is only good for three years. The system regularly hires that number of educators each year. Programs and professional development each received 13% or $1 million for each category.

Each school will be assigned two teachers, one of which will be an interventionist. The second teacher position will be based on specific needs at the school. The system will hire three interventionist coordinators and one psychologist.

Teachers will be taught “a problem-solving framework, process and tools to help all students reach full academic, social and emotional potential.”

Current staff members can apply for the additional positions. Applications will be available May 15. Information about job descriptions and salary “will be forthcoming.”

Farrelly briefed the board on graduation. The three high schools will all have in-person graduations at traditional sites. Cape Hatteras Secondary graduation will occur in the gymnasium with 240 tickets available (four per graduate); First Flight High graduation will take place on the football field with 1,000 tickets available (four per graduate); and Manteo High will be at The Lost Colony theater with 620 tickets available (three per student.)

The system’s 2021-22 budget was initially presented at last month’s meeting. At this meeting, the board unanimously adopted the budget.

In announcements, Farrelly said:

– the bell schedule will stay the same in the next school year.

– $120,000 will be saved by pulling at least three buses off the road.

– as of May 11, DCS’s transportation system has enough fuel for three weeks.

Ten policy amendments and one regulation were presented for first reading.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Tyrrell County Schools superintendent Oliver A. Holley elected NERESA chairman

Dare County Extension: An untapped resource for adults and youth