By GINA KINSLOW
A new after-school program will be available to Austin-Tracy Elementary students next year, thanks to a federally funded grant.
School officials applied for the grant looking for a way to expand after-school offerings and to increase enrollment.
The elementary school was one of 21 schools statewide to receive a $327,000 21st Century Learning Center grant.
“We’re just real excited about it,” said Scott Harper, principal.
“It would be something that is unique and different for our school and it might be something to entice students to come to our school,” he said.
Austin-Tracy has been experiencing a decline in enrollment recently, which Harper said is typical of most elementary schools in the Barren County School System.
“When we look across the district, I think all the schools would say they have less kindergartners,” he said.
The K-6 school has been showing a slight decline in enrollment for the last three years. In 2005-06, the school’s enrollment was 279; 2006-07, 272; and 2007-08, 243, according to Bo Matthews, director of pupil personnel for the school district.
Austin-Tracy experienced a drop in enrollment from 2006-07 to 2007-08 because its sixth-grade class that moved on to Barren County Middle School was larger than its incoming kindergarten class, Matthews said.
Through the program, Harper is hoping to offer homework help, recreational activities, such as archery, and organized team play.
“We’re hoping to run all of our after-school activities through this,” he said.
Harper said he and his staff are still ironing out the details.
The grant will fund the program for three years. For the first year the school will receive $145,000; $109,000 the second year; and $73,000 the third year, according to Holly Trowbridge, district grant writer.
It will also enable the school to bus students home in the afternoons and will cover the cost to hire a program coordinator.
Austin-Tracy will be partnering with the Barren River State Park in offering student activities.
The state park’s staff will take students on nature hikes, conduct science experiments and water safety programs, among other activities.
“Students will have an opportunity to really experience firsthand the natural beauty of the facilities of the state park,” said Monica Conrad, park manager.
Conrad believes introducing students to the state park at a young age will spur them to continue using its facilities later in life.
“We’re even looking at incorporating a culinary piece,” she said, adding that may involve students working with the state park’s chef.
According to Benny Lile, director of instruction for the school district, this is the same type of program that was made available to BCMS students several years ago.
Harper intends to launch the program this summer, possibly as summer camp event. A date and time for the kickoff has not been set.
