By: Jolie Peal, Nebraska Public Media News
The Beatrice Educational Foundation launched a campaign Tuesday to help save the after-school program in the local school district.
Beatrice Learning After School Time, also known as BLAST, serves about 250 children in the community who need after-school care. The program faces uncertainty after $175,000 in federal funds was withheld earlier this month, part of almost $7 billion withheld from schools nationally. Now, the foundation, which partners with Beatrice Public Schools to put on the program, wants to raise money to replace those funds to keep BLAST going.
“This is a really great program and a great resource for students and parents,” said Jami Vater, executive director for the Beatrice Educational Foundation. “I hope that our community rallies like they have in the past and supports this program.”
Vater said the foundation is still working out the details for the campaign, but will look at ways to reach out to the community and alumni for support, along with joining the community’s upcoming Big Give Gage in September.
While they fundraise to replace those dollars, Vater said BLAST has enough money in reserve to start the school year.
“We offer so much programming that I believe that those low-income students might not have access to it if it wasn’t for our after-school program,” Vater said.
Vater added the after-school program partners with several community organizations, including Gage County Extension, Southeast Community College and the local theater, Community Players.
Beatrice Public Schools Superintendent Jason Alexander said he appreciates the partnership the school has with the foundation.
“We’re very fortunate to have the foundation as a partner, but also as an extension of that, all the business partners in our community, that it seems like whenever there’s a need, they are able to help represent the school and help us find the funds we need to take care of things,” he said.
Alexander said the after-school program supports students with resources like tutoring and offers a safe environment while parents finish their work days.
“It helps tremendously in just equipping students with the tools they need to pursue their goals and contribute to society,” he said. “It’s an extension of the school day that just helps in so many ways.”