Council Partners with School Board on After-School Programming Grant

Englewood's elected officials are working together to ensure the city's children have a wealth of after-school activities for years to come.

The city and the board of education have partnered to submit a federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant application that, if awarded, could mean more than $2 million over the next five years toward the creation of after-school academic enrichment and recreational activities for city children in grades 4 through 6.

The board of education, acting as the lead agency in submitting the grant, would be responsible for ensuring students complete homework and receive hands-on academic enrichment opportunities after school. The city, as the district's partner, would be responsible for providing after-school recreational activities to keep children active and engaged.

In addition to working with the city's recreation department, the district also hopes to collaborate with New Jersey City University, Arts Horizons and Vantage Health Systems to provide after-school programming with a career awareness and exploration theme, according to its grant application.

Councilwoman Lynne Algrant, who has spent the past few months working on the 21st Century grant application with members of the school board, said the after-school activities would be based at McCloud Elementary School and would enroll between 150 and 200 children in grades 4 through 6. She said the programming, which would run three-hours per day, five days-a-week, including during the summer, would be an extension of the after-school programming that already exists at McCloud.

"This has felt like a win-win for everybody," Algrant said Tuesday. "Ensuring that the terrific things the recreation department is designing — which we have sometimes struggled with them being undersubscribed — we will now be able to deliver that kind of programing at the after-school program where there are plenty of kids who need something to do."

Algrant said she anticipates families might have to pay a small amount to participate in after-school programming, but that it would be less than what is currently charged for after-school services at Liberty School.

Mayor Frank Huttle and Councilman Wayne Hamer both praised Algrant for her work with the district at last week's council workshop.

"I love the idea that the city and the board of ed are collaborating on something this meaningful," Hamer said.

The district should learn whether it has received the federal grant — which would provide more than $400,000 per year for five years — by the end of June, Algrant said. If it does, the enhancement in after-school programming would begin in the fall.

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