Malden Reads, district outline literacy programs as enrollment ticks up to 6,141

Superintendent Noriega-Murphy introduced a joint presentation with Malden Reads representatives Linda and Jodie Zalk describing planned 2021–22 literacy and arts partnerships across Malden Public Schools.

The partners said Malden Reads will continue to provide books to students at all grade levels, host author visits and movie nights tied to selected community reads, and expand programs such as a Mini Writers’ Den for middle-school students. Planned initiatives include establishing a Youth Poet Laureate program, a 4th-grade "M&M" pilot pairing literacy mentors with students, and an arts-in-literacy effort in which middle-school students will create ceramic tiles to bring books to life; those tiles will be displayed at the Early Learning Center. The program also envisions providing poetry books to Malden High School and integrating music and visual art into literacy curricula.

In a related district update, Mr. Iovino reported enrollment at 6,141 students (an increase of 79 students in recent weeks and more than 300 since the start of the school year) with a potential to add another 196 students in the coming days; he said the current total is about 52 students fewer than pre-pandemic enrollment. Staff described expanded FAFSA support through a partnership with uAspire — including a forthcoming uAspire hire to be on-site two days a week and late-afternoon counselor workshops funded by grant money — and other supports to help families navigate postsecondary planning.

Operational updates included an interim increase in bottled-water deliveries from 50 to 80 cases per week until bottle-filling-station installations begin; work will start at the Beebe cafeteria and gym and each school will receive at least two filling stations. Committee member Mr. Weldai requested a staffing-change report for the English Learner Department and asked for a district-wide update on the writing prompt at the next meeting.

Superintendent Noriega-Murphy and district leaders did not present detailed budgetary figures for these initiatives during the public session; the projects and staffing items cited will be advanced through standard district planning and grant-administration procedures.