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Board members gave the okay after Kuehn-Haven Middle School Principal Ed Graham shared an overview of the program's prospective offerings, staff needs, enrollment guidelines and projected costs.

The summer study program will offer reading and math components in both morning and afternoon sessions. There is room for up to 100 students, with sessions running 2.5 hours a day, four days a week for six weeks.

The board followed Graham's tuition recommendations - $100 for in-district students and $175 for out-of-district enrollees - despite concerns by some members that the price was too low.

Graham said other school districts offer similar summer school programs with fewer classroom hours for twice as much money, but said he wanted to keep costs down for families in need of the academic boost.

"We tried to find a break-even point. We want to help as many kids as we possibly can" he said.

The class sizes are limited by the number of computers needed to run the Fast ForWord and Accelerated Math programs. A certified teacher will run the sessions, with assistance from a paraprofessional.

Fast ForWord is a program that provides computer-based instruction for language and reading skill development. Earlier this year, the district purchased a site license for the software based on the high rate of reading improvement among students using the program.

The board also okayed a new summer program that will help prepare incoming students for kindergarten. Kindergarten Round-up will be offered two hours a day, four days a week for three weeks.

Parents attending last week's kindergarten registration at Carter Elementary School were given details about the program.

The free kindergarten program is open only to in-district students. Graham said he estimated that the 2-7 grade summer school would make enough money to offset the expense of the kindergarten program.

"I propose we run this one at our cost. It will give our kids the best leg up in starting their school career," he told the board.

Board members believed the offerings would be attractive to both in-district and non-resident families. Graham said he gets phone calls from parents from other school districts every spring, asking about summer school opportunities in Montrose.

The program could also boost the district's appeal to out-of-district families, trustee Paula Diem said.

"I think it's a good advertisement. People will come here, see what we have to offer, see the facilities," she said.

Summer school slots will be offered to Montrose students first, and then opened up to outside enrollment, Graham said.

For more information about Montrose summer school opportunities, call Carter Elementary School at (989) 639-6131, ext. 8842, or Kuehn-Haven Middle School at (810) 639-6131, ext. 8835.