Bronaugh's after-school program gets new life from state

Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Taking part in a Bronaugh after-school "Make It, Take It Educational Fair" last spring are, from left, school board member Brent Banes, his daughter Josie, wife Ashley and son Strauss. The project was part of after-school activities that the state just funded for another five years.

By James R. Campbell

Nevada Daily Mail

BRONAUGH -- The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has granted Bronaugh Schools more than $380,000 to finance its after-school program for another five years. Bronaugh officials say the grant will help maintain a key component of 21st century public school education because such programs fill a place in students' lives that could otherwise be unproductive with activities and experiences they do not have during the regular school day.

Superintendent Lyle Best reported Tuesday that DESE had OK'd funding totaling $83,357 this year, $85,000 for each of the next two years and $64,500 for each of the last two years of the grant.

Noting that Bronaugh pre-school teacher Julie Forkner wrote the grant application and leads the project, Best said this year's addition to the curriculum will not be inaugurated until early October because there was a gap in DESE funding. "We have it in the cafeteria, and we have it in the gym at times, if that's available," said Best.

"There will be an increased emphasis on math and science. We're extremely happy because it's a good way to build on the academics they learned during the day and provide supervision until their parents can get home from work.

"They have good interaction in a different learning environment than the regular classroom."

Forkner said her first experience at grant-writing was difficult but rewarding.

Assisted by first and third grade teachers Sarah Morris and Whitney Hinkle and Parents as Teachers and Practical Parenting Partnership staff member Sherry Brown, Forkner will introduce the new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program with robotics this year.

"We will build pinball machines and bridges and make balloon cars with plastic cups and matchsticks," Forkner said Tuesday.

"It's learning through experimental things. We had 73 kids enrolled last year and averaged 58 for the past five years. We will also have Alexis Brown of Bronaugh, who is a student at Cottey College, working with us."

Forkner said the teachers will continue their traditional activities of tutoring in subjects the students are having trouble with, going on field trips, writing books and performing plays, and for the first time this year they will publish a monthly school newspaper, for which the students will choose a name.

"They'll play basketball, Hula Hoops and kickball and do community service projects," she said. "We have family nights and do character education and arts and crafts."

Noting that Bronaugh Schools have a total enrollment of about 240 children, Forkner said the after-school program benefits from partnerships with Cottey College, the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center in Nevada, the Vernon County Soil & Water Conservation District, 3M and the Nevada Daily Mail.

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