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City youth-center supervisor reports growth in volunteers, raises funding resilience after AmeriCorps exit
Summary
John Hunter briefed the board on the City of Middleton Youth Center’s programs, summer schedule, volunteer growth (667 high-school volunteer hours) and funding mix; the center covered lost AmeriCorps positions with parks & rec funds but said the change strained budgets.
John Hunter, youth-center supervisor, presented the City of Middleton Youth Center’s annual update to the school board, describing daily operations, year-round programming and a recent increase in high-school volunteer engagement.
Hunter said the youth center collects students right after school, runs homework help and mini-courses, and offers structured summer programming that includes field trips and an overnight camping trip at Devil’s Lake State Park. He highlighted a cultural showcase and the long-running Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat food drive, which the center now runs in partnership with WayForward Resources after AmeriCorps funding in Dane County ended.
Hunter provided participation and demographic numbers: 97 unduplicated youth in 2025; 67% youth of color; 42% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. He said volunteer hours climbed to 667 from roughly 50–60 in an earlier year, noting that many middle-school participants return as high-school volunteers and sometimes staff.
On funding, Hunter said the parks and recreation department is the center’s largest funder, with the school district as the second-largest contributor, followed by Dane County funds, a United Way grant and family donations. He said the abrupt end of AmeriCorps in Dane County last year forced the program to cover three planned AmeriCorps summer positions from the parks & recreation budget, which strained resources but preserved no-cost access for families.
Board members asked about wait lists and staffing; Hunter said the district partnership has helped maintain staffing and the city would add another therapist FTE for school-based services next year (in the context of partnerships). The board thanked Hunter for the update and invited continued collaboration to maintain free programming for families.
Closing questions touched on measurement: Hunter noted 179 middle-school community-service hours this year and suggested providing year-over-year comparisons at the next update to highlight growth.
The presentation ended with board appreciation for volunteers and staff; no formal action was required.
