Watertown School District Reports Strong Turnout for Expanded Summer School Program

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown School Board received an update Monday night on the district’s newly revamped summer school program, with Mellette Principal Andi Ward outlining expanded access, strong attendance, and positive feedback from staff and students.

Ward said the district redesigned summer school this year with a clear goal: make the program accessible to all students, not just those invited based on academic performance.

“Before, teachers would invite students to come based on their academic performance, and that excluded some students who just wanted to come for fun or because they had a love of learning,” Ward said.

New Community Partnership Model

To broaden participation, Ward initiated a collaboration between:

·         Watertown Regional Library

·         Park and Recreation Department

·         Boys & Girls Club of Watertown

·         Watertown School District

Ward worked with Sarah at the library, Nicole at the Boys & Girls Club, and Ryan at Park & Rec to design a new model centered on math and reading sessions held throughout June and July.

The library’s community room served as the central location. “It was a great place to draw students into,” Ward said, noting its size, accessibility, and proximity to the Boys & Girls Club.

Staffing and Structure

The program included:

·         Seven teachers rotating throughout the summer

·         Two teachers per grade level per session

·         Five paraprofessionals, with two or three assisting each session

·         Park & Rec staff member on site

·         Boys & Girls Club staff walking students to and from the library

The district offered eight total sessions — four reading and four math — held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Attendance and Registration

Ward reported strong registration numbers:

·         80–100 students registered for each reading session

·         Similar numbers for math sessions the following day

Sessions 1 and 2 in June saw the highest turnout. Attendance dipped slightly in early July, which Ward attributed to the proximity of the holiday.

Families were able to register for individual sessions rather than committing to the full summer.

“They could look at what worked for their schedule and sign up for what was best for them,” Ward said.

Teachers still encouraged specific students to attend, but the program was open to all.

Positive Feedback and Future Adjustments

Ward said teachers appreciated the 45‑minute session length, calling it “just right” for focused activities and skill practice. Students enjoyed the variety and the ease of attending directly from the Boys & Girls Club.

Suggestions for future improvements included:

·         Holding sessions consecutively rather than with breaks between them

·         Sending reminder emails to families before each session

Ward noted that Park & Rec already uses reminder emails for its programs, and the district could adopt the same approach.

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Library Setting Praised

Board members asked about the library space. Ward confirmed the program used the community meeting room, with flexibility to divide into two classrooms if needed.

Board members also noted the added benefit of students being able to check out books. “Perfect place,” Ward said. “They loved it.”

Library staff also reported strong attendance in their own summer programs, which students were able to learn about during their visits.