Kent City School District: June Update

Press release from Kent City School District:

Jim Soyars

July 1, 2021

Dear parents and community members:

Congratulations to the Class of 2021
On a beautiful Saturday, the Roosevelt Class of 2021 held their graduation ceremony outside on the Student Green at Kent State University.  I’m so proud of our approximately 240 graduates and their teachers.  As I told them in my remarks at Commencement, I admire their perseverance.  The Class of 2021 came together to make the best of a difficult situation.  We counted on them, and they came through for all of us.

Vaccines for ages 12 and up
The availability of vaccines for students ages 12 and older really makes a difference in our thinking about returning to a five-day-a-week schedule in the fall.  We recently held vaccine clinics for students ages 12 and over.  The positive response was much higher than predicted by our partners at Akron Children’s Hospital, who organized the vaccine clinics.  These students will receive their second doses on Wednesday, June 16, at Stanton Middle School.  Times will be announced.

Planning for next year
After all the upheavals during the last year because of COVID, I’m happy to report that we are now putting together plans for five-day-a-week school next fall.  I am cautiously optimistic that we can return to “normal” when school begins on August 25.  We will be monitoring the COVID situation closely and hope to announce our plans by mid-summer.

Watch for Bond Issue projects underway this summer
Over the summer, entrances at the six school buildings will be renovated to provide secure entries.  Artificial turf and a new sound system will be installed at the stadium.  Air conditioning with increased airflow and upgraded heating and power systems will be added at the four elementary schools.

Longer lasting and more energy efficient LED lighting will be installed indoors and outdoors across the district.  New gym floors will be added at Holden and Walls, and flooring replaced at Stanton Middle School.  These are just some of the construction projects funded by the $25 million “No New Tax” Bond Issue approved overwhelmingly by Kent voters in 2020.

Rough Riders Read returns with free books
Now in its third year, Rough Riders Read returns to give students in kindergarten through twelfth grade a free book.  The popular program encourages students to read over the summer and avoid the “summer slide” of reading comprehension skills. Volunteers wearing masks and gloves will distribute the books to children, who must stay in their cars until their turn.

Enroll now for Fall 2021
New to Kent?  Do you have a child who will be five years old on or before August 1, 2021?  Resident enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year is now open. Please click “Enroll Now” on this web page tab and follow the prompts.

Thank you again for your continued support of the Kent City Schools.

George J. Joseph
Superintendent of Schools

This press release was produced by Kent City School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.