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Van Buren Youth Initiative reports 1,500 student engagements, pilots transportation with Decatur schools
Summary
Van Buren Youth Initiative staff updated commissioners on year-one programming, partnerships and plans to expand transportation and digital media access after reporting more than 1,500 student participation instances from Jan. 15–May 21.
Eric Wacharski of the Van Buren Intermediate School District updated the Board of Commissioners on June 24 about the Van Buren Youth Initiative’s first full school year of after-school and summer programming across three sites in Van Buren County.
Wacharski said the program recorded more than 1,500 instances of student participation between Jan. 15 and May 21, noting the count reflects individual students attending multiple classes, clubs and workshops. “The majority of our students that we're seeing are seventh and ninth graders, and 100% of those students reported that they learned something new from programs,” he said, adding that 94% said they felt connected to a teacher or peer and 92% said they felt inspired after attending a class.
The numbers, Wacharski told commissioners, are being used to plan a larger schedule next year and to justify further local investment. “Our confidence comes from our competence,” he said,…
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