The Roslyn Board of Education is considering extending the Roslyn Summer Academy next summer so that the program offers more learning time for the students who most need it.
The free program is for rising first graders through ninth graders to continue English language arts and math education into the summer. This past summer, it was four-weeks long.
After praising the program as a valuable resource at Thursday’s board meeting, Clifford Saffron, vice president of the board, suggested that the academy be extended.
“The more education the better, the more days of education the better,” he said.
No one on the board disagreed. Many members bounced around ideas about the logistics of how it could be achieved.
Board President Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy wondered whether attendance would drop off due to family vacations should the program be extended.
Average daily attendance is 265, said Carol Murphy, principal of the Roslyn Summer Academy, which is about 100 less than the total enrollment.
Even if attendance lessened toward the end of the extended program, those who would benefit from more classroom time would make the program extension worthwhile, suggested trustee David Seinfeld.
Waxman Ben-Levy said she remained slightly concerned that some parents would just be using the program as “free babysitting” for a brief period before vacations or sleep-away camp, making it difficult for students to bond as a cohesive group throughout the summer.
Saffron emphasized that the board should focus on keeping around the students that participate fully rather than trying to get those who lack in attendance to participate more.
Instruction in the program ranges from remedial assistance to practice for the SATs, Murphy said.
The program also incorporates physical education activities and field trips to nearby spots such as the Cradle of Aviation and Queens Zoo.
“It was really my pleasure to supervise the Roslyn Summer Academy,” Murphy said. “I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed being there. I loved the kids. I loved the staff…it was tremendous.”
Enrollment in the program has increased in recent years, especially for elementary students. Elementary enrollment was 212 in 2016 while this past summer it was 256, Murphy reported to the board.
Last summer it was held at Harbor Hills School. In public comment, Roslyn Teachers Association President Eleanor Russell suggested that it move to the middle school.
Elementary school teachers spend a lot of time decorating classrooms, so taking the decorations down for the summer program at the end of the school year is time-consuming, she said. Those same teachers like to come in early before the start of the school year to put them back up, which could interfere with the program should it be extended. If the middle school was hosting, the academy could avoid those conflicts, Russell said.
The meeting proceeded with a report on the Extended Year Program, a summer program for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that provides individualized support to help maintain mastered skills.
Waxman Ben-Levy said she visited the program and was “moved to tears” by the success of what she saw.
The board meeting also included recognition of students who won national Merit Scholarship Corporation awards for their performance on the 2017 pre-SAT.
The district had two qualifiers for the National Hispanic Recognition Award for being among the top 2.5 percent of Hispanic and Latino students in the region: Anthony Barisano and Thomas Vincent.
Director of Guidance Greg Wasserman also recognized the 19 students who earned Letters of Commendation and welcomed up National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. Eleven district students were named semifinalists this year.
“It is always a pleasure to show up at the board meetings to recognize our wonderful students and to have the honor of introducing them and their accomplishments,” Wasserman said.
