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Massena Boys and Girls Club to hold pilot after school program this fall at Jefferson Elementary School

Posted 8/22/14

By ANDY GARDNER MASSENA -- Jefferson Elementary School will host a pilot after school program for the Massena Boys and Girls Club starting in the fall, the Massena Board of Education decided Thursday …

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Massena Boys and Girls Club to hold pilot after school program this fall at Jefferson Elementary School

Posted

By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Jefferson Elementary School will host a pilot after school program for the Massena Boys and Girls Club starting in the fall, the Massena Board of Education decided Thursday night.

The board voted 7-0 to adopt a measure to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Boys and Girls Club, but not before discussion about footing a $6,500 bill to pay for a daily snack. Board members Paul Bronchetti and Ron Faucher weren’t at the meeting.

“Being that there is a cost to the district, there should be a termination clause in it (MOU),” board president John Boyce said, adding that if the program expands to Madison and Nightengale elementaries, “you’re looking at [$20,000] two years from now.”

The termination clause was included in the motion.

The money will come from the general fund.

“Sixty-five hundred dollars is not a lot of money, but it is an expense,” Boyce said.

Board member Loren Fountaine, who is also the finance committee chair, said the budget allows wiggle room for new expenses like this.

Boys and Girls Club program director Gabe Hinkley said there is grant funding the district can pursue to pay for the food. He said the Akwesasne club gets enough aid to pay for hot meals.

Jefferson principal Duane Richards said the program would run from 3 to 6 p.m. on school days for about 100 students. It would include three “blocks.” One is for quiet and guided study. The second is for physical activity on the playground or in the gym. The third is hands-on craft activities, Richards told the board.

Hinkley said the sessions would be led by club staff and volunteers, and all the volunteers will be fingerprinted and subject to background checks.