Lights on After School report to school board

Nevada Daily Mail

When the Nevada R-5 School District implemented its Lights on After School program in 2009 there were 219 students taking part in it, Debbie Spaur, Bryan Elementary School principal, told the Nevada R-5 Board of Education during its Wednesday night board meeting. That number has dwindled to around 50 this year.

At that time the program was open to all students from kindergarten through fourth grade and emphasized enrichment programming. Since then the focus has changed away from enrichment to reading and homework and it's open to students who are invited to attend based on their academic needs, and in 2010 the kindergarten program was dropped.

Misty Rainey, Benton Elementary principal, told the board that invitations were sent to 43 Benton students and 10 signed up. Those students are sent to Bryan Elementary where a combined first and second grade program is held.

Spaur told the board that at Bryan, 42 children were invited to participate and eight are taking advantage of the program.

Spaur said because the school district does not provide transportation home for students in the Lights On program that limits participation.

At Truman Elementary, Julie Kibble, principal, said that they have two programs. The reading club, which meets Monday and Wednesday, 71 students were invited and 14 accepted. For math, 79 students were invited and 21 accepted.

"This year the attendance has been good, right up to 5 p.m.," Kibble said.

She said that what they provide at Truman is a quality program, but it serves a very small population.

"I have mixed feelings," Kibble said in response to a question as to whether it is worth continuing the program.

Spaur said that because of changes in the normal school programs students are getting intensive reading and math instruction.

"It is hard for teachers to add two hours to their day," Spaur said.

"It makes it harder to staff programs," she said.

In other business the board:

* Voted 7-0, to approve the district's bus routes, which are unchanged from last year.

* Voted 7-0, to approve 16 updates of Missouri School Board Association policies.

* Voted 7-0, to adopt a resolution opposing Amendment No. 3 on the November ballot.

During an executive session following the open session, the board voted to approve the termination of Oren D. Carpenter, high school custodian.