Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the After School Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Richard M. Keane Foundation outlines expanded after‑school programming, cites $285,000 annual spending
Summary
The Richard M. Keane Foundation briefed the Wethersfield Board of Education on its Keane Kids after‑school programs, saying recent grant funding will let the foundation spend roughly $285,000 this year across multiple enrichment initiatives and expand preschool and summer offerings.
The Richard M. Keane Foundation told the Wethersfield Board of Education it is expanding and continuing financial support for after‑school enrichment across the district.
Carolyn Fazina, director of the Keane after‑school programs, told the board the foundation has funded Keane Kids programs for nine years and a hands‑on learning program for four years, and that a recent grant will let it spend about $285,000 across those programs this year and likely the same amount next year.
Why it matters: the foundation’s funding supports activities at all five elementary schools, scholarships for families and specialized vendor partners the district does not otherwise provide. Board members and staff said the partnerships help broaden extracurricular learning at lower cost to the district.
Fazina said program details include about 108 students in musicals this year (up from 98 at program start) and 1,983 enrollments in the current year’s Keane offerings; since inception the foundation reports 13,820 total program enrollments. She said the foundation distributed about 101 scholarships totaling nearly $6,000 this year to help children attend programming.
The foundation also described a new Play & Create club aimed at encouraging screen‑free activities; staff plan to change how they collect participant worksheets next year to get better data. Fazina described the Keane Hands On Learning curriculum that visits every elementary classroom and covers grade‑appropriate science and engineering investigations.
Fazina thanked partners including Wethersfield Public Schools administration, Parks and Recreation and local instructors, and said the foundation will fully fund the middle‑school ENCORE after‑school program and the CLASS Summer Learning program for the next two years.
Board members praised the programs and noted the offerings create pathways to other community theater and arts experiences for students. The board accepted the presentation; there was no formal vote.
Ending: The foundation asked the district and community to continue the partnership; Fazina said the aim is for the programs to become sustainable over time while keeping immediate enrollment and scholarship opportunities available to families.
