By CHRIS COLLINS

Of the Baker City Herald

The Baker Middle School will offer a two-week summer school program for about 20 students beginning July 1.

The session is the only instruction scheduled in the Baker School District this summer. Summer school was cut from the district’s programs last year because of funding shortfalls. This year, a state budget deficit has forced the district to lay off staff and cut more programs to balance its budget.

Money raised during basketball tournaments at BMS several years ago will be used to fund the summer program, which will cost about $3,000, according to Dave Giles, principal.

andquot;We had saved some money for a rainy-day fund,andquot; Giles said. andquot;This is not money that comes out of the general fund. It is money saved by the school for the school.andquot;

Students will meet at BMS from 9 a.m. to noon July 1-18. Seventh- and eighth-graders were selected for the program on the basis of need, Giles said.

Lisa Coughlin, a Baker School District diagnostician, and Sharon Everson, a middle school teaching assistant, will provide instruction in language arts and math.

The summer instruction is the continuation of an after-school tutoring program that met nightly during the last quarter of the school year, Giles said.

Thirty to 40 students participated in those sessions.

Giles said the program was developed in cooperation with parents to help students who were struggling in the core classes of language arts, math, science and social studies.

The after-school instruction was staffed by teaching assistants under the direction of teachers who were available for consultation, he said.

Letters already have been sent to students who will participate in the summer classes. Some space may be available for others who are interested in receiving summertime help, he added.

Although the middle school is the only district-sponsored summer instructional program, the Baker School District also is providing free lunches Monday through Thursday at Brooklyn and South Baker elementary schools. The lunches are funded by a federal child nutrition program, according to Scott Craig, Food Service director. Meals are served from noon to 12:45 p.m. each day to students ages 18 and younger.

The Baker County Library Bookmobile will visit South Baker each Monday and Brooklyn every Wednesday during the lunch program, which continues through Aug. 8.

Summer classes are available for high school students through Blue Mountain Community College’s high school completion program. Students may make up credits required for graduation by maintaining a dual enrollment through BMCC and the high school, said Jerry Peacock, Baker High School principal.

To register, students may call BMCC at 523-9127, Extension 26. Teacher Sue Hollis-Shade is out of the office until 1 p.m. June 25. The first summer school orientation session will begin at 3 p.m. June 26 at the BMCC center at 3275 Baker St.