Grant Funds New After School Program
By: Jennifer Penate
Updated: May 1, 2012
A 500-thousand dollar grant.
"We have the demographics that a grant like this needs to serve but our students assessment scores are so great that sometimes we're denied," says Brian Biermann,
Assisant Superintendent for the Pittsburg School District.
The grant is geared to help students in rural and high poverty schools. It will fund an after school and summer program for five years at all 4 Pittsburg elementary schools.
"Pays for supplies, it pays for teacher salaries. We also have a healthy snack program and for summer time have breakfast and lunch that's paid for," says Biermann.
The funds will even cover transportation for the children.
The curriculum will focus on four subjects: English, Math, Healthy Living and Enrichment.
"The more they do, the better they learn and so it's not going to be a sit down kind of thing that they...No pencil paper thing. We want it to be more than that," says reading teacher Sheila Stephens who is excited to coordinate the program.
"The benefits are going to be endless," says Stephens.
She believes the program will help unlock student's full potential. Instead of going home and watching tv after school, tudents can exceed their own expectations.
"Maybe they like reading a lot and they'll want to become an author, it just gives them more opportunities," says Stephens.
More than 500 students are already enrolled in the program which is set to start on Wednesday and will continue with summer school.
