A state grant is giving parents the opportunity to put their children in after-school programming in Lockport for $300 a year.
The program is being offered by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns at Emmet Belknap Intermediate and George Southard Elementary schools and is slated to start Sept 30.
Registration will take place at the Lockport City School District office, 130 Beattie Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 5. There are 60 openings at Belknap and 60 openings in the program at Southard Elementary, which is open to all K-4 students district-wide.
“We want to get the word out early, because on Sept. 15 there may be openings, but those could be gone very quickly,” said Bob O’Brocta, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns.
Superintendent Mathis Calvin III said the district was informed of the opportunity to go for a LEAPS grant, formally known as the Learning and Enrichment After-School Program Supports grant, just after he learned that the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier would no longer provide before- and after-school programming for Belknap students, who are fifth- and sixth-graders.
YWCA CEO Kelly DeMatteo said her organization ceased providing an after-school program at Belknap Intermediate a few years ago due to a lack of funding from the 21st Century grant, which was obtained by the school district. The YWCA’s before-school program was canceled this year due to lack of enrollment, DeMatteo said.
The Lockport district is partnering with Boys & Girls Club for the first time and Calvin said he’s excited to work with the organization.
“We’re willing to support any after-school program for kids, no matter the organization, as long as they serve the well being of the community,” he said.
After-school programming will be offered every Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Belknap Intermediate, and 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Southard Elementary. Busing to Southard from Anna Merritt, Charles Upson and Roy B. Kelley elementary schools will be provided. Dinner will be provided to students at both sites.