After-School Program Eases School Transition

Thu., Jan. 27, 2000

By Carlos Acevedo carlosa@spokesman.com

A program started in November is transforming local public schools into dynamic community centers, officials say.

Using a three-year, $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Spokane School District 81 is creating so-called 21st Century Community Learning Centers from area middle schools.

That name will change in upcoming weeks, however. Officials are looking for something shorter and easier to say.

The district has selected 15 schools serving low-income children to participate in the program. Students from those schools are assigned to participate at one of four central locations, called hubs - Garry, Shaw and Glover middle schools and a hub split between Chase and Sacajawea.

The centers stay open after school hours and host activities for students, but also for the community at large.

“The program uses school buildings, which are in every community and keeps the lights on a little longer,” said project director Greg Baker.

The main goal of the program is to help students do better in school, Baker said.

To that end, each hub provides after-school tutoring and homework centers. The program focuses on kids moving from elementary to middle school, Baker said.

Some students tend to have difficulty making the switch to the higher grade levels, and the programs aim to ease them into middle school with orientations visits. Some schools may soon offer a weeklong orientation camp, Baker said.

But the program also offers nonacademic activities for children and adults.

“They pay for the schools with tax dollars, after all,” Baker said. “If a building belongs to them, then why not let them use it.”

Today, Shaw Middle School is offering the first adult class since the program started. It’s a 10-week woodworking course.

District 81 was one of 176 schools awarded funding out of roughly 2,000 applicants, and it ranked 10th best out of those selected. Central and East Valley school districts were also awarded grants.

This sidebar appeared with the story: FAST FACTS School hubs

For more information on classes or activities, call The Garry Hub at 354-5124, the Shaw Hub at 354-5831, the Glover Hub at 354-5323 or the Chase/Sacajawea Hub at 354-5454.

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