Three more Peabody schools join after hours program

PEABODY – Peabody Public Schools have expanded their partnership with For Kids Only Afterschool to now include the Welch, Brown and McCarthy schools.The fee-based after school program was such a success at the Burke School this past year that Superintendent Milton Burnett and his staff spoke with the other elementary schools’ principals and parents about possibly implementing the program there, too. Burnett said the response was overwhelming in some instances.The privately run program offers enrichment activities, tutoring, healthy snacks and activities focused on art, science, sports and fitness for students at a cost, but they also accept vouchers for families in need.”It provides an after school program for kids that would potentially go home to an empty house,” Burnett said. “It’s an instructional environment with homework help, recreational activities and peer-to-peer friend-building.”Burnett emphasized that For Kids Only Afterschool will hire their own staff and run their own program separate from those organized through the city’s school system. In other words, the city is simply renting out the classroom space to the not-for-profit organization for a mere cost of $1.50 per day for each child enrolled.”The rental fees will cover our utility costs,” Burnett said in an earlier interview. The expected additional revenue of roughly $4,000-$5,000 will offset the heat and electricity bills, he said.Each program will be staffed with licensed professionals at a 1:13 teacher/child ratio. Participating students would remain at their elementary schools until 6 p.m. when parents are expected to pick them up.Burnett noted that there was some student interest at the West School, but not enough to run a full program. The minimum requirement is 12 participants and the West only had nine. However, he mentioned the possibility of busing those few students to the McCarthy School at a cost of $1, paid for by For Kids Only Afterschool, if the interest is strong enough.Registration for the program began on Aug. 4 and is still open. The first session will take place on Sept. 2. For more information, call 978-740-KIDS (5437).