Summer School at Hamilton Has a Growth Spurt

Enrollment in the 's summer school program reached a record high this year as 2,205 students signed up for 295 classes.

Running nearly all day from June 13 to July 29, the Summer Opportunities Program cost the district around $415,000. However, Hamilton actually netted about $50,000 after the revenue from the program was calculated, the program’s coordinator, Dick Ladd, told the School Board Monday.

And keeping students occupied during the summer isn’t the only perk of summer school. Seventy-seven Hamilton teachers were employed through the program, as well as 63 students looking for a summer job.

“For a lot of these kids, this was their first job ever,” said Ladd. “We tried to make this a learning opportunity for them during the hiring process. We made them fill out applications and go through a formal interview.”

Besides the typical arts and sports classes offered mainly to younger students, high school students had an opportunity to earn missed credits during the summer. Twenty credits were earned in the classroom during the summer, and 10.5 credits were earned through an online program.

And the online aspect of summer school may be expanded next year, Ladd said.

“We would like to start working with the high school so students can not only make up credits, but also gain additional credits for students who are ‘gung-ho’ during summer,” he explained.

Ladd credited everyone involved in the program for making it a success.

“The planning for summer school actually starts in December,” he said. “This particular year we spent a good chunk of time getting the online registration and hardware in place. It was a complete success.”

School Board member Lynn Kristensen said after being a part of seven different school districts throughout her life, she’s most impressed in what Hamilton has accomplished.

“As someone who has had their kids going to summer school for 12 years, I have to say it just gets better and better,” she said.