Merrill's before- and after-school program is a go

Kissinger Elementary students will be able to enroll in a before- and after-school program at Merrill's First United Methodist Church when classes resume on August 21.

Throughout the past year, the town has been working to develop a before- and after-school program to provide activities and supervision for students whose parents work longer than school hours.

"We're trying to keep our numbers up by offering a program that will draw more people to town," said Dan Smith, a Le Mars Community School Board member and Merrill resident heading the before- and after-school program efforts.

As of last Thursday, as reported in the Daily Sentinel, the project was on hold, waiting for approval from the state fire marshal.

That word came late last week.

The church has donated use of its facilities and is capable of hosting 14 students, eight of which have already shown an interest in taking advantage of the program.

"We're working to have the program ready by the beginning of school," Smith said.

With less than three weeks until the Kissinger's school start date, the program is still in need of volunteers and part-time employees to run the before- and after-school facility.

"We are looking to employ one to two facilitators to work part-time who preferably have experience working with juveniles," he said.

The facilitators will provide students with additional help on schoolwork, projects, and classroom activities; with the help of local volunteers.

"We'll take volunteers from anywhere," he said. "We won't turn any help away."

That help, Smith says, could consist of grandparents of the children attending the program and even high school students who are interested in volunteering and working with children.

The before- and after-school program will run from 6 a.m. to the start of school; picking students up after school for supervision until 6 p.m.

For parents who commute from the Le Mars and Merrill areas to Sioux City for work, Smith say he hopes those parents see the before- and after-school program as a chance to spend 15 more minutes with their child every day during their drive.

"This is a chance for us to help some kids," Smith said.

Supporters of the program also see it as an opportunity improve the town of Merrill by offering a program that will benefit the community's youth and draw more families to town.

"Kissinger is like family to Merrill," Smith said. "And we're going to try and keep it that way."