Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the After School Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
GTCC tells board Western Connect awarded second five-year federal grant; program serves 84 Western elementary students
Summary
GTCC Family & Youth Program Manager Jackie Jacob told the board that Western Connect (a 21st‑Century after-school grant program) was awarded a second five-year grant; the free program serves 84 Western Elementary students and recently hired a grant coordinator, Mariah Bellinger.
Jackie Jacob, family and youth program manager at GTCC, told the D C Everest Area School District board that Western Connect — a 21st‑Century after‑school grant program serving Western Elementary students — was awarded its second five‑year federal grant and currently serves 84 students in before- and after‑school care.
Jacob said the program offers academic enrichment, math and literacy support, team-building, social-emotional learning and playtime. She said the program is free to Western Elementary students and highlighted that GTCC recently hired Mariah Bellinger as the new 21st‑Century grant coordinator; Bellinger has been on staff about three weeks as of the presentation.
The board watched a short video featuring students describing activities they like about Western Connect. An unnamed student in the video said, “I like Western Connect because my friends and we do, like, really fun activities, like, all the time.” Jacob told the board the program partners closely with the district and community to provide enrichment outside the instructional day.
Nut graf: Western Connect is a federal 21st‑Century Community Learning Centers model program that provides free, supervised academic and enrichment activities outside regular school hours; the district heard a status update and confirmation of continued federal support for the next grant cycle.
Jacob requested no board action; the presentation functioned as the meeting’s mission moment and program update. Board members thanked GTCC staff for the program and welcomed the new grant coordinator.
Ending: Staff said they will continue operating the program for Western Elementary students under the grant terms and will return with updates as needed.
