Grant helps Ontario-Montclair district support summer programs
MONTCLAIR - Six Ontario-Montclair School District campus will be awarded a grant to help support summer school programs thanks to the city.
The $89,251 grant - through the state Department of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Program - promotes opportunities for academic enrichment for students and schools to meet performance standards in core subjects.
Youth development activities including art, music, character education and recreation programs are also a part of the grants goal.
The city was awarded the grant to provide programs at Kingsley, Mission, Montera and Ramona elementary schools, as well as Serrano and Vernon middle schools.
The $89,251 grant - through the state Department of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Program - promotes opportunities for academic enrichment for students and schools to meet performance standards in core subjects.
Youth development activities including art, music, character education and recreation programs are also a part of the grants goal.
The city was awarded the grant to provide programs at Kingsley, Mission, Montera and Ramona elementary schools, as well as Serrano and Vernon middle schools.
Will Lester/Staff Photographer
"This is such a big deal because we've cut so many electives, so having this program really helps," said Serrano Principal Leticia Zaragoza.
The funding pays for training, supplies and the salaries of a learning coordinator and leader at each site. The learning leaders have either an instructional aid certificate or an associate degree.
The city's Montclair Community Collaborative, a partnership among the city, the school district and community organizations, identified the resources and the grants objective.
"This program runs a lot of things that are outside of the box," said Darrell Hickey, learning coordinator with the city.
Hickey, with the help of another coordinator, runs the program at Serrano.
"We want the students to have their summer but at the same time enrich their minds by using the curriculum," he said.
The summer program allows students to visit the school from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. In its first year the program attracted 500 students, this past summer the program brought in 700 students.
"The first year we didn't get the word out as much but this year we had to turn people away," said Laura Floyd-Cole, acting senior recreation supervisor with the city.
Over the summer students not only worked on academics they also to participated in cooking classes and theater.
On Sept. 20 City Council members approved the third year of the three-year renewable grant, which will be used in June.
School officials said they will apply for the grant again.
The funding pays for training, supplies and the salaries of a learning coordinator and leader at each site. The learning leaders have either an instructional aid certificate or an associate degree.
The city's Montclair Community Collaborative, a partnership among the city, the school district and community organizations, identified the resources and the grants objective.
"This program runs a lot of things that are outside of the box," said Darrell Hickey, learning coordinator with the city.
Hickey, with the help of another coordinator, runs the program at Serrano.
"We want the students to have their summer but at the same time enrich their minds by using the curriculum," he said.
The summer program allows students to visit the school from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. In its first year the program attracted 500 students, this past summer the program brought in 700 students.
"The first year we didn't get the word out as much but this year we had to turn people away," said Laura Floyd-Cole, acting senior recreation supervisor with the city.
Over the summer students not only worked on academics they also to participated in cooking classes and theater.
On Sept. 20 City Council members approved the third year of the three-year renewable grant, which will be used in June.
School officials said they will apply for the grant again.
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