Local Government TV

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Slate Belt Y Proposes After Hours Program For bangor Schools

L to R: Dick Smith, Slate Belt Y Founder; Devon Whiteman, Jill A'Hearn and Frank Frey
Did you know that 40% of the children at Bangor Area School District are entitled to free lunches? Jill A'Hearn, speaking on behalf of the Slate Belt YMCA, has proposed an after hours program for children until their working parents can pick them up. It will be educational, but also will include physical activity and a snack. The cost is $11 per student per day, but no child will be turned away.

School Director Bob Cartwright was skeptical at their meeting last night until he realized that it includes an educational component.

Ron Angle, from the peanut gallery, piped up and told the Board, Thus is one of the most marvelous things I've heard in a long time." He added, "I would sponsor a child."

Frank Frey the CEO at the Greatervalley Y, told the Board there are similar programs in seven area school districts.

The Slate Belt Y, based in Pen Argyl, has raised $4.2 million of the $6 million it needs to complete construction.
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5 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 24, 2014 at 10:00 AM

    Sounds great, though a lots of questions would need answers.

    No child will be turned away.
    How is the $11/day funded?
    YMCA? Sponsorship? Taxes? State or Fed funding? A combination of sources?

    ...for children until their working parents can pick them up.
    Only low-income eligible? Proof of employment, including shift hours required?

    Will anyone contact the seven other districts to see if it is working, or has it become an experiment they are afraid to end? Are they finding abuse of the service?

    Would hate to see this be just another shiny little bauble that school boards never investigate before getting hooked into.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bernie O'HareJune 24, 2014 at 10:07 AM

    I thought the Y did a great job answering these questions last night,as well as others raised by Cartwright. Don't consider this a shiny bauble.I consider this precisely the kind of thing that keeps kids from joining gangs and getting into criminal activity. The high crime time for kids is between 3-7 pm. It's good to see some will have supervision instead of being home alone.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 24, 2014 at 1:44 PM

    I used to swim naked with my dad at the Easton Y. All the boys did with their dads. Not kidding!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bernie O'HareJune 24, 2014 at 1:48 PM

    It probably would have been more fun with the girls, but I won't judge.

    ReplyDelete
  5. chinese buffetJune 26, 2014 at 8:08 AM


    40% ENTITLED to "free" lunch? Parents should pack their kids a pb&j like I do. Use that "free" lunch money to fund the Y.

    ReplyDelete

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