A nonprofit organization has shown a willingness to partner in the creation of a new after-school program for Jaffrey students.
During a meeting of parents and other community representatives, the Monadnock Bible Conference of Jaffrey expressed its desire to partner with the Jaffrey-Rindge School District and other entities to start a program to serve parents and students displaced by the now-defunct extended day program.
“The Monadnock Bible Conference is here for our community,” said Nate Cook, MBC program director of youth ministries. “If there is any way we can help, please let us know.”
MBC and the school district will meet in the near future to discuss the possibility of creating a program that could serve the elementary and middle school students in town with nowhere to go after school. The partnership could also include other community groups and organizations in town.
“I’m a dreamer, so I would like to get this program started as soon as possible,” said Cook. “We’re looking to provide a safe place for the children in the community.”
The Monadnock Bible Conference is a nonprofit, religious, and charitable camp that operates year-round. Located at the base of Mount Monadnock, the camp offers a number of youth and adult camps and also rents its facilities to other ministries, organizations and churches for their own camps and retreats.
The potential of a program opening up for the upcoming school year is good news for families displaced by the discontinuation of the extended day program.
Jaffrey resident Owen Houghton, who helped organize the gathering, said at the meeting Monday that at least one parent has told him that without a viable after-school program, he or his wife would have to quit their job to watch their children after school.
Community advocates have been working through the summer to help address the void after the Jaffrey-Rindge School Board voted not to continue the extended day program, which had been funded for the past five years by a state grant.
School Board chair Laurel McKenzie approached the Jaffrey Select Board last month to see if the town would be willing to absorb the program, similar to how the program is presently run in Rindge.
Selectmen decided that nothing could be done this year, but Recreation Director Renee Sangermano was tasked with creating a proposal for the 2017-18 school year.
With at least a year gap in after-school programming on the horizon, Houghton gathered various community members together on Monday to see if anything could be done in the interim, which is when Cook announced MBC’s interest.
Cook said the two largest obstacles to helping to foster a program would be transportation and staffing.
Regarding transportation, it was discussed that a school bus route may pass by the Monadnock Bible Conference, which is located at 257 Dublin Road.
To help with volunteer staff, Jaffrey Grade School Principal Susan Shaw-Sarles said she would see if Franklin Pierce University would be willing to send some volunteers to help, much like what occurred with the extended day program.
Houghton said if startup funds were needed, the Community Center of Jaffrey has some money available. Houghton said the community center could also help provide snacks if needed.
The group will meet again next month to hear an update from MBC and the school district about the viability of a potential after-school program.