Superintendent (name not specified) and special-education leaders presented details of the district's summer learning programs at the Aug. 8 School Committee meeting. Jennifer Gravlin, assistant director of special education (secondary), Andrew Duquette, assistant director of special education (elementary), Lisa Bassignani (special education office), and Patty Gay (middle/high school experience leader) described Extended School Year (ESY) services and the district’s lifelong-learning offerings.

“We have over 248 students that were recommended for the summer program and 161 attended,” the special-education team reported, summarizing ESY, which ran July 7–Aug. 7 Monday through Thursday at three sites: the ECDC on Oak Street (preschool), Pond Street (elementary), and Franklin High School (middle/high program). The ESY program hired 93 staff and delivered instruction across reading, math, writing, social-pragmatic skills and related services including speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Program leaders said ESY included community and vocational trips — middle and high school students visited the New England Patriots’ training camp and met Pat the Patriot; 18-plus students continued vocational work at Magnolia Heights; other students visited parks and grocery stores as part of functional skills learning.

Patty Gay and other presenters also reviewed the district’s lifelong learning and enrichment programs. The district reported total summer enrollment of 1,281 students across offerings such as Solutions Summer Adventure, STAR, Ready Set Kindergarten, Summer STEAM, Summer Music, High School Experience, and for the first time a Middle School Experience for incoming sixth graders.

Presenters credited staff flexibility amid reorganization and moving. They said programs were academically focused while including recreational activities and community trips, and noted volunteer mentor involvement in music programs and high school experiences.

Committee members asked whether participation was up from historical norms; staff said most programs held steady, with small declines in music and high school experience and typical summer attendance variability through the season.

There were no committee votes tied to the summer-program report; leaders said they would share additional operational details and photos on district channels.