Bristol Public Schools Looking To Help Fund Summer Camp Scholarships

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

June 10, 2022

Even though the school year is wrapping up, Bristol Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Dr. Michael Dietter said the district is looking to help fund summer camp scholarships and summer outreach opportunities for area youth utilizing its Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds.

ESSR funds are part of federal efforts to provide supplemental and relief support to schools.

When the school system received the funds, Dietter said school officials met with community stakeholders, staff, parent groups and board of education workshops to identify areas within the community focusing on children where enrichment and extended opportunities could be offered. BPS officials then met with representatives from Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut, the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol and Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services because they comprise the largest organizations in Bristol that hold summer programming for students.

Each organization has an existing camp scholarship program.

“We looked at their overall enrollment of summer campership and then we allocated amounts based on a percentage of students served within the community and ultimately between scholarships and transportation we’ve allocated just over $100,000 for summer programming for youth,” said Dietter.

The deputy superintendent noted the district hopes to be able to fund camp scholarships in the following school year as well. ESSR II funds must be expended by June of 2023 and ESSR III funds must be expended by June of 2024.

“ESSR II, the amount was $8 million and ESSR III was $18 million,” said Dietter. “Within those allocations, percentages need to be expended in certain areas.”

The deputy superintendent noted that some of that funding was going to school infrastructure improvements such as HVAC and other needs.

“We’re excited about this because it enhances existing collaborations that we have with community providers and resources to ultimately benefit everybody in the community,” said Dietter.

He continued saying the fund-awarded organizations would grant scholarships based on their own criteria. Based on current campership fees, BPS will fund over 550 weeklong experiences for Bristol youth.