THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008
Ridge Fees, Summer Camp Request Approved
Elk Grove Township Elementary Dist. 59 school board members Monday approved 2008-09 fees for inter-session and extended day programming at Ridge Family Center For Learning in Elk Grove Village, and also approved an outreach program's use of one of the school's facilities this summer.
As the Ridge Family Center for Learning operates on a unique school calendar, two programs, Wednesday Extended Day program and Inter-Session, are offered to elementary students as an option on a fee basis only. The fees are intended to cover the direct operating costs of the programming.
The 2008-09 Ridge school calendar provides for Wednesday afternoons to be designated for professional development and planning activities.
Student dismissal time is scheduled at 2:30 p.m. Rather than choosing the early dismissal, parents may enroll their elementary student in an extended day program that runs until 4 p.m.
The 2008-09 Ridge balanced calendar also provides for three inter-sessions. The first one will span eight days from Oct. 20-31; the second one will be from Jan. 5-9, 2009; and the third will be from Mar. 30-Apr. 3, 2009.
According to school officials, inter-sessions "extend and refine" the academic learning of students aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards.
The October session will cost $112; the January 2009 and March 2009 sessions will cost parents $70 each. Additionally, the Wednesday Extended Day Program for the entire year will cost $190.
Agreement
The board approved a special building use agreement authorizing the Greater Wheeling Area Youth Outreach, Inc. (GWAYO) to use Holmes Jr. High School in Mt. Prospect as its site for its Summer Adventure Camp in accordance with Dist. 59's summer school dates. Additionally, GWAYO will not be charged a rental fee.
The Summer Adventure Camp schedule will coincide with the district's summer school program, allowing students who attend summer school in the morning, the option to attend the GWAYO Summer Adventure Camp in the afternoon from Wednesday, June 11 through Wednesday, July 2 from 11:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
However, the camp has no connection with the district's summer school program and is not considered a program sponsored by the district.
During the summer of 2005, Dist. 59 hosted GWAYO's camp at Juliette Low Elementary School in Arlington Heights.
Due to the concerns regarding the supervision of students, the district did not renew the agreement in the subsequent year.
Over the past few years, a local church hosted the camp. However, the church was unable to find a custodian and therefore was unable to host the program.
GWAYO requested Dist. 59 reconsider hosting the program within the district. Dist. 59 staff contacted references and conducted discussions with GWAYO leadership prior to approving the program that will be conducted in the district once again.
GWAYO is an Illinois not-for-profit organization that provides tutoring and mentoring programs and services to low-income students. Their services provide opportunities for low-income Pre-K through seventh grade students from south Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, and Mt. Prospect.
Library Grant
Lastly, board members approved the release of the library grant funds in the amount of $4,428.77.
This grant provides support for Dist. 59's learning resource program, and in doing so, it enhances student learning and academics, according to district officials.
Funding from this library grant allows Learning Resource Center teachers the opportunity to add both books and educational software to their collections. Uses of the grant funds might include the acquisition of library books to support reading for academics and enjoyment, library subscriptions to electronic resources, and/or improved technology to support student research.
School Dist. 59 serves resi dents in Des Plaines, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, and Mt. Prospect.