Boys & Girls Clubs restart after-school program

            The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend began serving Franklin County schoolchildren Monday, after receiving word from the Florida Department of Education that funding had been restored for the Good TIDES after-school program.

            Kevin Ward, director of the Good TIDES program, said word came Oct. 27 that the program would receive $594,500 for the first year in a five-year grant, with the rest of the years dropping by 20 percent annually.

            The fund approval comes nearly three months after the state first denied the organization's application for renewed funding, because the clubs' application had fallen less than one point short of being funded in the application cycle for 21^st Century Learning Center Grants,.

            The Good TIDES grant funds three Boys & Girls Club after-school sites in Franklin County, including Chapman Elementary in Apalachicola, Brown Elementary in Eastpoint and the Carrabelle Municipal Complex, formerly Carrabelle High School. Together, these three sites serve more than 300 kids ages 5 to 18.

            "Even though we have not been able to pay them for the past two months due to the initial denial of our renewed funding application, many of our Good TIDES staff have worked to prepare for this very moment, when the Department of Education would reverse its decision and agree to fund this invaluable program," said Kevin Ward, director of the Good TIDES program in Franklin County. "Thanks to everyone in the community who has stood by us."

            Buddy Streit, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend, said that "It's a good day for hundreds of kids and parents in Franklin County. We are thrilled to be able to continue serving Franklin's rural communities and providing its children with much needed after-school youth development programs."

            Ward said the program has so far hired back 15 staffers, with the eventual staff levels depending on the number of school kids who take part in the afternoon program. "Enrollment isn't what it should be yet," he said.

            The school district is handling transportation from Franklin County School to the sites, beginning as soon as school lets out. Students will ride the same buses they take in the morning. The clubs' hours run until 6:30 p.m., when parents pick up their children.

            To enroll a child at one of the three clubs, call the appropriate club director: Apalachicola (Chapman Elementary), Jhaki Davis, 850-519-5372; Eastpoint (Brown Elementary), Danielle Layne, 850-519-5371; Carrabelle (Carrabelle High School), Cherry Rankin, 850-519-5370.

            Or call Ward at 850-528-4915 for more information.