Girard school board approves agreements for pupil programs

GIRARD -- The board of education has approved agreements with community groups to support activities at the Girard Multi-Generational Center.
The programs are funded by a $1 million 21st Century Learning Center grant provided by the Ohio Department of Education.
This is the first year the district is receiving money from the grant for after-school and summer programs at the schools and center.
On Wednesday, the board approved agreements with the Girard Free Library to provide materials at the center, Youngstown State University to evaluate the program, city police to provide a youth court and security at the center, and the center itself to use the facility.
For the first three years of the grant, the district receives $227,956; $170,967 in the fourth year and $113,978 in the fifth year.
Superintendent Joseph Jeswald said that in the final years of the grant when the amount is reduced, he hopes someone in the community steps forward to help fund the programs.
The focus age group for most of the programs are children between the ages of 4 and 8. There are 100 pupils enrolled in programs at this point, but Jeswald said the goal is to have at least 600 different pupils enrolled in activities throughout the year.
The requirement for participation is being a resident of the Girard School District. The grant coordinator is Anthony Cario.
Any resident interested in learning more about the grant or any of the programs the district will offer should contact Cario at the center.