$2 million grant allows Monett Schools to fund after school program, adult education
Monett was one of 20 schools in the state to receive a grant to create and maintain an after school program.
January 1, 2020
Vinnie Roberts
In this day and age, with more parents doubling their workforce efforts than ever before, the necessity for afterschool programs has never been higher. Recognizing this need, the Monett School District announced plans to use funds from a recently secured grant to move forward with a variety of new after school programs for district students.
On October 4, it was announced that the district was one of 20 schools in Missouri to be awarded a grant that will enable the district to fund two new programs. Offered through the Department of Education, the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant will provide $2 million in funding for five years for the purposes of creating and maintaining an after school program.
The first of these programs, set to begin when the district resumes classes on January 6, is a new after school program called the Cub House.
According to David Williams, director of Monett Alternative Education Academy and writer of the grant that brought the funds to the district, this new program was founded after an underlying need was recognized within the community.
“Our demographics have a high free and reduced rate,” explained Williams. “What that means is we have some students with some economic needs. That usually also means that often times, both parents in the home are working or older siblings are having to take care of their younger siblings.”
Williams, having been familiar with the program after being tasked to direct a similar program in a previous district, applied for the grant in July. He explained that programs such as these have a profound impact on the student population.
When the program begins in January, it will allow students from preschool all the way through middle school to have a place to go after school that will offer fun, educational activities in a safe environment.
“For school age children pre-k through eighth grade, we’re going to be able to fund a three hour after school program every day,” sait Williams. “We’ll start the day off with a recess break of sorts. After that, Life360 will provide a snack for our students.”
Life360 Community Services is a Springfield-based charitable organization that provides a variety of essential services, including nutrition, housing, affordable daycare and many others.
From that point, the program will shift focus, engaging students in fun, non-graded educational activities.
“Then, we will have a reading time for thirty minutes, where we’ll have special guests come in and read from time to time,” Williams explained. “We’ll have local teachers, our superintendent and principals, as well as some politicians have been asked to come and read. Grandparents can also come in and read to our classes.
“After that, we’ll have what we call STEAM enrichment. STEAM is an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math,” continued Williams. “The kids will have two half hour activities where, they just think that they’re having fun, but we’re actually teaching them science principles and helping them with reading.”
The program will run from the end of the school day until 6 p.m. Parents can pick their children up at any time during this period, and for those that can’t, the school will also run busses from the program to bus stops throughout the district.
Additionally, the district will use a portion of the funds to create another after school program. Different from the Cub House, this program will focus on adult education, with an emphasis on a special demographic.
“We also have a unique demographic here in Monett of English learners,” Williams continued. “We have a lot of students and parents who are learning the language while working or going to school.”
According to Williams, in March the district will launch a variety of adult education classes, starting small at first, but with the capacity to expand.
“On the adult side, it also provides some funding for adult education,” said Williams. “The sky is the limit with the adult education, but what we’re going to start with is some ELO classes. We will also provide, for our recent newcomer families, a series of ‘Welcome to Monett’ classes.”
According to Williams, these classes will cover topics like local geography, where to pay certain bills, like water and sewer, how and where to get a driver’s license, as well as other topics geared toward helping families new to the district better assimilate to their surroundings.
Before they begin, the district plans to do some kind of public information night for the community in February. The adult education program is tentatively set to launch shortly after, in March.
For more information on either the Cub House after school program or the adult education courses being offered through the Monett School District, contact the central office at (417) 235-7422.
Vinnie Roberts
In this day and age, with more parents doubling their workforce efforts than ever before, the necessity for afterschool programs has never been higher. Recognizing this need, the Monett School District announced plans to use funds from a recently secured grant to move forward with a variety of new after school programs for district students.
On October 4, it was announced that the district was one of 20 schools in Missouri to be awarded a grant that will enable the district to fund two new programs. Offered through the Department of Education, the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant will provide $2 million in funding for five years for the purposes of creating and maintaining an after school program.
The first of these programs, set to begin when the district resumes classes on January 6, is a new after school program called the Cub House.
According to David Williams, director of Monett Alternative Education Academy and writer of the grant that brought the funds to the district, this new program was founded after an underlying need was recognized within the community.
“Our demographics have a high free and reduced rate,” explained Williams. “What that means is we have some students with some economic needs. That usually also means that often times, both parents in the home are working or older siblings are having to take care of their younger siblings.”
Williams, having been familiar with the program after being tasked to direct a similar program in a previous district, applied for the grant in July. He explained that programs such as these have a profound impact on the student population.
When the program begins in January, it will allow students from preschool all the way through middle school to have a place to go after school that will offer fun, educational activities in a safe environment.
“For school age children pre-k through eighth grade, we’re going to be able to fund a three hour after school program every day,” sait Williams. “We’ll start the day off with a recess break of sorts. After that, Life360 will provide a snack for our students.”
Life360 Community Services is a Springfield-based charitable organization that provides a variety of essential services, including nutrition, housing, affordable daycare and many others.
From that point, the program will shift focus, engaging students in fun, non-graded educational activities.
“Then, we will have a reading time for thirty minutes, where we’ll have special guests come in and read from time to time,” Williams explained. “We’ll have local teachers, our superintendent and principals, as well as some politicians have been asked to come and read. Grandparents can also come in and read to our classes.
“After that, we’ll have what we call STEAM enrichment. STEAM is an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math,” continued Williams. “The kids will have two half hour activities where, they just think that they’re having fun, but we’re actually teaching them science principles and helping them with reading.”
The program will run from the end of the school day until 6 p.m. Parents can pick their children up at any time during this period, and for those that can’t, the school will also run busses from the program to bus stops throughout the district.
Additionally, the district will use a portion of the funds to create another after school program. Different from the Cub House, this program will focus on adult education, with an emphasis on a special demographic.
“We also have a unique demographic here in Monett of English learners,” Williams continued. “We have a lot of students and parents who are learning the language while working or going to school.”
According to Williams, in March the district will launch a variety of adult education classes, starting small at first, but with the capacity to expand.
“On the adult side, it also provides some funding for adult education,” said Williams. “The sky is the limit with the adult education, but what we’re going to start with is some ELO classes. We will also provide, for our recent newcomer families, a series of ‘Welcome to Monett’ classes.”
According to Williams, these classes will cover topics like local geography, where to pay certain bills, like water and sewer, how and where to get a driver’s license, as well as other topics geared toward helping families new to the district better assimilate to their surroundings.
Before they begin, the district plans to do some kind of public information night for the community in February. The adult education program is tentatively set to launch shortly after, in March.
For more information on either the Cub House after school program or the adult education courses being offered through the Monett School District, contact the central office at (417) 235-7422.
