Summer programs break participation records but funding for next year is uncertain

Monongalia County Schools presented record participation and distribution numbers for its summer offerings but told the Board of Education that funding for the program’s continuation in 2026‑27 is not yet secure.

Dr. Susan Taylor, who leads summer programming, said the district served about 1,800 students on four Summer Sizzler “cool bus” routes and distributed roughly 26,600 books to students for home libraries. For the Summer Avalanche program, she reported 2,532 students registered this year — roughly 22% of the district’s student population — and described a menu of hands‑on classes and transition programs for rising pre‑K, kindergarten and sixth‑grade students.

Why it matters: Board members praised the programming as a protective and enrichment service for children during the summer months. One board member suggested county commission funding or the West Virginia First Foundation as possible funding partners; another said the programs keep students safely engaged when school is out.

What the district said about costs and funding: Dr. Taylor said the summer Avalanche program served an average of 660 breakfasts per day (9,861 total breakfasts) and about 1,039 lunches per day (just under 16,000 lunches for the program period). She told the board the recent summer was paid largely from carryover funds and that the district’s budget passed in May did not include funding for the 2026‑27 school year. “We were using federal dollars. We were using COVID money to pay for summer avalanche. Obviously, that's gone,” she said, adding that prior totals for summer programming ranged between $800,000 and $1 million.

Board discussion and next steps: Board members asked how the district might secure ongoing funding. The superintendent and board members discussed pursuing county commission support and opioid‑settlement grant funds (West Virginia First Foundation) as potential sources. Dr. Taylor said she will complete financial statements by Sept. 30 to clarify whether carryover funds can sustain the program for 2026‑27; until those statements are finalized the district could not guarantee continuation.

Ending: Board members emphasized the program’s value for student engagement and transition supports and encouraged administrators to pursue stable funding sources before the next fiscal year.