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At the Feb. 24, 2021, recent Linden Board of Education meeting, the board discussed having an extensive summer school program to help students struggling. The targeted students will be elementary and middle school students.

“We plan on targeting the kids who need it the most. We will provide an incentive to get them out here for the summer,” said Superintendent Dr. Timothy Thurman.

Thurman said that even though virtual school has been a help and a success during the pandemic, superintendents across the state have noticed the students have regressed during virtual instruction.

“There is no substitute for face-to-face instruction,” said Thurman.

Students across the school system have not been logging on to virtual classes or submitting assignments. The purpose of the extensive summer school is to get these students back on track before the fall school year.

Thurman emphasized the importance of getting elementary school students on track as those are the formative years for students.

“We have to get those kids on target,” said Thurman. “And that’s the reason we’re going to push summer school.”

The board also discussed the ceiling of the library at the elementary school. Thurman recently had a hole fixed in the ceiling above an office that was flooded after a rainstorm. Thurman said the ceiling would need to be addressed by summer.

Seniors at Linden High School sent Thurman a proposal about the upcoming Prom. Thurman said the proposal is well thought out, and he said he thinks it is doable. The proposed Prom would be held outside to accommodate for social distancing. The board will discuss the proposal and announce a decision at a later date.

The students also asked about a senior trip, but Thurman recommended the school not plan a trip due to COVID-19 concerns.

Items approved at the meeting:

The board approved the financial statements for December 2020 and January 2021, and all bank statements have been reconciled.

The board approved the hiring of Mrs. Willa Mack as part-time reading intervention teacher at G.P. Austin Middle School for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.