A 21st Century Community Learning Center grant was awarded on June 30 to the Gasconade County R-2 School District to fund a before and after-school program called EXCEL.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Staci Johnson on July 22 shared the news with the board of education.

“It’s a $399,479 one-year grant with four continuing years,” said Johnson, who wrote the grant. “We are still working through a lot of the details. Today, we posted the project director position. They are going to see the implementation of the program. We are going to work through a lot of those details as soon as we hire them.”

The board approved the project director and site directors for the Owensville and Gerald elementary schools and the Owensville Middle School during the July 22 board meeting.

“We will have a before and after school program and students who sign up can do either or both,” Johnson said. “In the morning, it’s going to look like eating breakfast, getting the day started, and character education — less academics. The after-school program will be a combination of math and reading intervention and enrichment and unique opportunities we don’t offer as part of a curriculum.”

Morning programs will be from 7 to 8 a.m. and afternoon programs will be until 5:30 p.m. within the building.

“We expect there will be a lot of interest and so there may be a wait list,” she said. “One of the biggest factors in determining who will be part of the program is a commitment to attending all days. Part of fulfilling the grant is that we keep our numbers up.”

The school partners with area entities to assist with the curriculum.

“All of our partners had to turn in letters of support,” Johnson said. “Some of the programs are woodworking, arts and crafts, theatre arts, sewing, small engines, a whole nutrition and wellness program like cooking and gardening.”

Earth’s Classroom will provide different programs one day each month per building and a second program one day each month that parents can attend.

“They focus on conservation-type topics,” Johnson said. “They are also going to have two summer family canoe day trips that we will be able to get people signed up for next summer.”

Prevention Consultants of Missouri are going to provide the Too Good For Drugs Program, including a parent discussion and education group.

“Our local police department will be doing programs with the students on safety and some community service projects with parks and recreation,” Johnson said. “There will be a variety of programs offered throughout the year that students may pick and choose from. They may not do EXCEL for the whole year. They may pick and choose from the programs and only do a specific program or time of year when they want to participate.”

Sign ups for the program are still being determined.

“As soon as we are ready to start signing people up and advertise the program for this fall, we will send out information to all parents electronically. If the students are back at that time, we will send it home with the students. We anticipate having something sent out before the school year starts.”

ºDaveThe grant was last awarded to the district in 2011, and the five-year segment was named STRIVE.

The funds awarded for the program were itemized in the budget.

“Every year, as long as we fulfill the approved parts of the grant, they will continue to give us the same amount for four years after,” Johnson said.

More information about the program will be released after staff are hired.

Johnson has applied for the grant every year since coming to the district.

“We are really excited about the opportunity for our kids and our community,” Johnson said. “It’s going to not only give them new experiences but help them to be more successful in the classroom and engage our parents as well.”