Concerned parents and community members voiced public support last week for the Worcester County Board of Education to maintain summer academy funding at area schools.
Members of the Worcester County Board of Education are pictured at their meeting Feb. 20 with administration staff. Photo by Tara Fischer/OC Today-Dispatch
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
Concerned parents and community members voiced public support last week for the Worcester County Board of Education to maintain summer academy funding at area schools.
During a Feb. 13 budget meeting, Coordinator of Instruction Tamara Mills addressed the program’s financial difficulties after COVID-19 relief money ran out. The move forced WCPS to request $377,700 from the county commissioners to fund the county’s northern schools’ off-season sessions.
Lauren Falotico, a Showell Elementary School mother and Parent Teacher Association member, reiterated the importance of the program and urged the board to fight to support it during a meeting on Feb. 20.
“My youngest attended summer academy last summer, and it was truly a transformational experience for her,” she said. “Summer academy is vital for education. It creates well-adjusted students for the upcoming school year. It provides a structured environment and prevents academic slides. With summer academy, students can continue their education, services, and social-emotional growth.”
Ocean Pines resident Laura Scharle said WCPS special education staff confirmed that if Showell and other northern schools are unable to host the summer program, per the monetary challenges, students in the area that qualify for Extended School Year services will be bussed to grant-funded academies. This would include Snow Hill Elementary. However, the concerned parent maintains that this is not enough.
“Many students that qualify for ESY, including my son, thrive on routine and familiarity,” Scharle said. “Bussing these students to an unfamiliar school will be counterproductive and cause more stress than success, making their summer academy experience a waste of time.”
Donna Pellinger reiterated the necessity of the summer program. Transporting northern students to the southern schools, she said, would disrupt children’s routines. The mother also mentioned that kids moving on to high school must have the opportunity to learn in their home base and acquaint themselves with the building and staff for the upcoming year.
“I urge you to continue to think about how we can make summer academy happen,” she said.
Chief Academic Officer for grades Pre-K-8 Denise Shorts also gave an update on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the initiative to increase education funding by $3.8 billion annually over the next ten years. The county is drafting its second implementation plan. The first portion is due to the Maryland Department of Education and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board on March 15. It will address five questions concerning the blueprint’s execution in Worcester County and will be released for public viewing after it is completed and approved.
The five-pillar piece, which will use outcome data, is due May 1. The pillars, for example, look at the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment and Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program results.
Superintendent Lou Taylor also announced the 2024 Worcester County’s Teacher of the Year nominees. They are listed are as follows:Lisa Ballance, Pocomoke Elementary School; Caitlin Evans, Worcester Technical High School; Susan Gray, Buckingham Elementary School; Zachary Johnson, Cedar Chapel Special School; Andrea Kominos, Showell Elementary School; Jason Konyar, Snow Hill High School; Amanda Krantz, Pocomoke High School; Lisa Kristick, Ocean City Elementary School; Carrie Moore, Snow Hill Middle School; Amy Jo Mulinos, Snow Hill Elementary School; Jenna Paul, Berlin Intermediate School; Gabrielle Remington, Stephen Decatur Middle School; Kim Snyder, Pocomoke Middle School; and Marie Stevenson, Stephen Decatur High School.