Kids Club highlights workforce model, grant funding and summer programming

Kids Club, the district’s after-school and summer program, presented its annual report to the board on April 24, describing program scale, volunteer and staff structure, funding sources and partnerships.

Director Carrie Lineman said Kids Club serves about 400 elementary students across seven elementary schools during the school year and about 200 during summer programming. The program employs roughly 50 adult staff and about 14 high-school students; Lineman and others emphasized that high-school staff are essential to program operations and allow a higher ratio of children served. The program runs a range of clubs (technology, STEM, art, cooking), partners with roughly 32 community organizations for programming and uses therapy dogs and other partners for social-emotional activities.

Kids Club leverages blended funding sources including federal 21st Century grants, philanthropic support and local donations. Lineman said some federal supports have been reduced recently and that families were asked to pay for summer pool passes this year (about $42) to preserve programming — she said families accepted that change. Lineman also said the program has been working with Beyond School Bells and was part of a videography project produced by high-school students; that video was showcased at state events. Lineman reported being selected for a national fellowship to work on after-school policy and funding issues in the coming year.

Board members asked whether Kids Club charges families; Lineman said the program is currently no-cost to families (at grant sites) because of federal 21st Century program rules and district policy; she noted community donations and occasional family contributions offset costs where allowed. The board commended Kids Club staff for their partnerships, workforce model and programmatic breadth.