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ABSS cuts some summer activities, citing budget constraints

The district blamed budget constraints.

BURLINGTON, N.C. — Parents in the Alamance-Burlington School System are scrambling for new summer plans for their students. 

ABSS took to its Facebook after reaching out to parents this week.

The district said it would be canceling rising kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade and high school summer school because of budget constraints. 

Summer school for second and third graders will continue as planned later this summer, as well as the CTE program. 

ABSS parent Brandy Whittaker said her 4-year-old son Colton was looking forward to joining one of the programs, but her family had to make other plans outside of the school system.

"We are fortunate and have made alternate plans for our youngest, he was able to get into a summer camp program for those weeks," Whittaker shared, "That program,  is either right at max capacity or now at max capacity whereas a week ago they haven't reached that level yet. It's that 24-hour rush and burden from a lot of parents that are over populating that program."

The school system's summer programs were supposed to run through July 23rd -through August 8th. A few parents took to the districts social media to ask questions, including Jennifer Brown who asked why certain programs can't continue. 

"I think that budgeting really needs to have an overhaul, especially when it comes to our children," Brown said. 

This comes just days after the district announced cutting a few positions to make room in their budget. 

Full ABSS Statement: 

Here's some information about the announcement ABSS made to our families and staff members yesterday regarding cancellation of some summer school programming:

Due to the district's current budget situation, ABSS announced yesterday that voluntary summer school sessions for rising kindergarten students, kindergarten students and first grade students will not be held as originally announced. High school summer school will not be held as originally announced.

The state-mandated Read to Achieve summer camp for current 2nd and 3rd grade students will be held as originally scheduled July 23-August 8. Approximately 600 second and third graders are registered and scheduled to attend the RTA summer schools that will be held across the district at all 20 ABSS elementary schools.

All summer school sessions were to be held during this same time frame (July 23-August 8). All summer school opportunities were voluntary, not required.

ABSS will hold the 12 previously-announced Career and Technical Education 3-day summer camps as scheduled in June and July.

School improvement teams at each school will develop strategies over the summer to help students have a successful school year next year. Each team will design the daily intervention times built into their school schedule to make sure that students have the skills needed for the next grade level.

- Jenny Faulkner Interim Public Information Officer

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