Committee advances $196,300 ARPA agreement with ReProgram for after-school and summer arts tutoring

A York City committee on April 23 advanced to the May 6 legislative agenda a resolution authorizing an agreement with ReProgram for $196,300 in ARPA funding to support after-school and summer programming that combines therapeutic performance arts with tutoring.

Kim, the business administrator, described the program as 1 of the city's original ARPA initiatives. She said the intent is to start summer programming as soon as contractors and recreation specialists are secured and to use school-district K-8 buildings for program space until the Sylvia Newcomb Center is renovated. "He is setting the plans are in place to start with the 2025-26 school year as the after school program," Kim said of Diaz Woodard, who started ReProgram.

Woodard (not present) has asked for the funding to be paid up front; staff and the city's ARPA consultants said they do not object but that the agreement must be edited accordingly and reviewed by the solicitor. Kim said ARPA consultants reviewed overhead and did not flag the current proposal, though staff will provide more documentation on overhead and any indirect-cost claims before finalizing the agreement.

Committee members asked where programs will be held and how many students would be served. Kim said locations will be in the K-8 buildings in the school district and that class sizes are expected to be about 25 to 30 students per session with multiple sessions per week; a precise student count was not provided. The contract advanced to the May 6 legislative agenda by voice vote; staff said Diaz Woodard can appear at the council meeting to answer community questions.

The resolution authorization for $196,300 will be returned to the full council on May 6 with a final agreement attached.