North Kingstown readies summer ESY program; transportation and staffing top concerns
May 28, 2026 | North Kingstown, School Districts, Rhode Island
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District staff provided an update on the extended school year (ESY) program, outlining referrals, transportation needs and staffing plans while answering parent questions about logistics.
Julie, who led the ESY briefing, said the district received roughly 173 referrals for elementary/middle ESY services and about 25 for the high-school program. She reported that about 159 families had either accepted or declined ESY offers so far out of about 200 referred and that approximately 124 elementary students are expected to need transportation. "All of our students that are attending the high school program will be taking transportation," Julie said as she described bus routing and drop-off/pick-up procedures used at Hamilton.
The ESY briefing described service delivery plans: related services (speech-language, physical therapy, occupational therapy), career-skills community placements for some high-school-age students, summer MTSS instruction, and supports for extracurricular inclusion (Best Buddies, unified sports). Staff noted some classrooms and campus areas will be unavailable while the district completes building work (a new high-school roof is scheduled) but said the front area of the building is safe for summer programming.
Transportation and specialized equipment were a focus in follow-up discussion. Committee members raised a specific case in which a family needed a harness for a child on the bus; staff clarified harnesses must be included in a student's IEP and that, in urgent cases and with family agreement, the district can add equipment or address needs via a memo and a rapid meeting. Members urged clearer parent-facing pathways so bus drivers and monitors can direct families to the correct transportation contact; staff agreed to pilot a card or form for drivers to hand families that lists the correct contact person and procedures.
Committee members also noted a planned staff change: Michelle Holm (transportation staff) will be moving to a different job and the district is coordinating bus-route work and contingency planning in her transition. SEAC discussed the importance of finalizing routes once families notify acceptance to minimize routing disruption.
Why it matters: ESY provides legally required services to eligible students during the summer; accurate parent communication, transportation planning and proper documentation (IEPs that authorize equipment such as harnesses) are essential to keep students safe and ensure service continuity.
Next steps: Staff said ESY letters for families who accepted services had been mailed and that transportation staff are meeting with SEAC and district routing staff in early June to finalize routes; SEAC suggested trialing driver contact cards and improving the parent-facing flow for transportation requests.
Julie, who led the ESY briefing, said the district received roughly 173 referrals for elementary/middle ESY services and about 25 for the high-school program. She reported that about 159 families had either accepted or declined ESY offers so far out of about 200 referred and that approximately 124 elementary students are expected to need transportation. "All of our students that are attending the high school program will be taking transportation," Julie said as she described bus routing and drop-off/pick-up procedures used at Hamilton.
The ESY briefing described service delivery plans: related services (speech-language, physical therapy, occupational therapy), career-skills community placements for some high-school-age students, summer MTSS instruction, and supports for extracurricular inclusion (Best Buddies, unified sports). Staff noted some classrooms and campus areas will be unavailable while the district completes building work (a new high-school roof is scheduled) but said the front area of the building is safe for summer programming.
Transportation and specialized equipment were a focus in follow-up discussion. Committee members raised a specific case in which a family needed a harness for a child on the bus; staff clarified harnesses must be included in a student's IEP and that, in urgent cases and with family agreement, the district can add equipment or address needs via a memo and a rapid meeting. Members urged clearer parent-facing pathways so bus drivers and monitors can direct families to the correct transportation contact; staff agreed to pilot a card or form for drivers to hand families that lists the correct contact person and procedures.
Committee members also noted a planned staff change: Michelle Holm (transportation staff) will be moving to a different job and the district is coordinating bus-route work and contingency planning in her transition. SEAC discussed the importance of finalizing routes once families notify acceptance to minimize routing disruption.
Why it matters: ESY provides legally required services to eligible students during the summer; accurate parent communication, transportation planning and proper documentation (IEPs that authorize equipment such as harnesses) are essential to keep students safe and ensure service continuity.
Next steps: Staff said ESY letters for families who accepted services had been mailed and that transportation staff are meeting with SEAC and district routing staff in early June to finalize routes; SEAC suggested trialing driver contact cards and improving the parent-facing flow for transportation requests.
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