Several after-school programs in the Syracuse City School District were recently awarded a total of $1.4 million in state funds to develop and expand programs and workforce skill training.

The funding, awarded by New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo, will also be provided to other city organizations, such as the YMCA of Greater Syracuse and the Westcott Community Center.

Stacey Stassi, program coordinator for the SCSD, said the funding will be distributed among four schools: Clary Middle School, Delaware Primary, LeMoyne Elementary and Salem Hyde Elementary.

Stassi added that the funding will be used to expand previously established after-school programs, primarily by increasing staff capacities.

“We don’t pay any full-time staff,” Stassi said of the current after-school program model. “It’s all part-time staff since it’s after school hours.”

She said the extra staffing will help bring the student-to-teacher ratio down from 15:1 to 10:1. Low teacher-to-student ratios are key to student development, she said.

With the new funding, Stassi said she hopes to expand the current Monday through Thursday after-school program to Fridays.

The funding will specifically benefit low-income and minority students by providing dinner, academic support and a safe place for students as part of an anti-bullying initiative included as part of the grant, Stassi said.

“Without a safe place to be, they would be missing out on a big opportunity,” Stassi said. “Without this funding, we would not be able to have these programs.”

The grant will allow the programs to offer more “enrichment opportunities” such as chess, yoga and theater, she said. The program will also offer students opportunities to learn more workforce skills.

The money will be used to expand current programs at the YMCA of Greater Syracuse, said Stefanie Noble, the organization’s director of communications.

Noble said the YMCA usually relies on charitable donations to keep its programs functional, which is why the new funding will provide the organization an opportunity to expand to more schools in the SCSD.

“The schools that we work with are our partners, and we couldn’t do these programs without them,” Noble said. “The Y is a unique organization. We specialize in helping kids grow and thrive.”

Joan Royle, executive director of the Westcott Community Center, said in an email the school district contracts the community center to provide additional services to schools such as Edward Smith K-8 and Webster Elementary.

“We are happy to work with the district and enjoy a strong partnership with them ensuring that students receive quality enrichment activities that are tied to the NYS Core Curriculum,” she said.

Royle added that the community center also offers programs at its facility on Euclid Avenue for students ages eight to 14.

Quality after-school programs have an investment rate of return of $3 for every $1 spent, according to Cuomo’s press release. After-school programs help students develop social skills and lead to better behavior in the school environment, according to the release.

“We value our after-school programs greatly,” Stassi said. “So the additional funding is needed so immensely. If there are any other opportunities to apply to expand these programs and serve more students, we will take it.”

Published on December 10, 2017 at 3:21 pm

Contact Charlie: cesawyer@syr.edu