Pasco County Schools is seeking federal grant money for a before- and after-school program for some students at Cox and Quail Hollow elementary schools, and wants to hear from parents during the process.
The application requires community input, said Tony Harroun, a senior grant writer for Pasco County Schools.
So, a community night is planned for March 3 at 6 p.m., at R.B. Cox Elementary School, at 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City.
Quail Hollow’s community night was set for earlier in the week, on March 1.
The idea is to give parents a chance to weigh in on what they would like to see offered as part of the program, Harroun said.
The emphasis of the before- and after-school program will be on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, he said.
But, children may be interested in specific topics in science or other subjects, and the district would like to hear parents’ suggestions, Harroun said.
If the district receives the grant, he estimates that the program at Cox and at Quail Hollow possibly could accommodate about 50 children each.
The district hopes to receive funding for both schools, so it can provide additional ways to engage children in learning and make it more interesting and fun for them, Harroun said.
The district already has this program at one elementary school and at an afternoon program at three middle schools, including Stewart Middle School, Harroun said.
The application will be submitted for a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant.
The program it would fund is called STAR, which stands for Success Through Academic Readiness.
Children from private schools also are eligible for the before- and after-school program, but the school district would not be able to transport them, Harroun said.
Parents of private school children who are interested in learning more about the program and who would like to offer suggestions about the programming are invited to the community meeting, he said.
What: Community meeting
Why: To solicit parent input on a potential before- and after-school program.
Where: Cox Elementary School, 37615 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City
When: March 3 at 6 p.m.
Published March 2, 2016
