Boys & Girls Club Eyes Expansion To Serve More Smithfield Youth
SMITHFIELD – The Boys & Girls Club of Johnston County presented a proposal to the Smithfield Town Council on Dec. 16 seeking joint use of the Sarah Yard Community Center to operate an after-school and summer program for local youth.
Under the proposal, the Boys & Girls Club would operate programs at Sarah Yard from 2:45 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school year. On teacher workdays and throughout the summer, hours would run from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The organization estimates the program could serve 50 to 60 children per day.
Currently, the Boys & Girls Club operates a unit at South Smithfield Elementary School, where average daily attendance ranges from 35 to 40 students. However, that location limits participation to South Smithfield Elementary students, leaving children from West Smithfield Elementary School and Smithfield Middle School unable to participate.
The proposed move to the Sarah Yard Community Center would allow the club to serve elementary and middle school students from across the Smithfield community. All community youth would be eligible to participate, including those already attending programs at Sarah Yard.
As part of the proposal, the Boys & Girls Club would assume all staffing costs and enter into a separate agreement with Johnston County Schools to provide transportation to the community center on school days. The organization also committed to coordinating with Smithfield Parks and Recreation to ensure regularly scheduled community activities at Sarah Yard can continue.
No money would change hands under the agreement. The Town of Smithfield would continue to cover utilities and maintenance for the facility, while the Boys & Girls Club would assume legal liability for youth safety during its programming and carry at least $1 million in general liability insurance, along with a $3 million umbrella policy.
No decision has been made. The Town plans to hold a community meeting to gather feedback from residents before considering whether to move forward with a co-use agreement. A date for the community meeting has not yet been announced.
The Boys & Girls Club of Johnston County said the proposal aligns with its mission to inspire and enable young people, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.
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The Boys & Girls Club of Johnston County said the proposal aligns with its mission to inspire and enable young people, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.
I thought that was the parents job?
I think that when students are at risk and they can be helped with the amazing programs this organization can provide. It takes a village.
“It takes a village “
No it doesn’t. It takes decent parents Who would rather be good parents than friends with their children. It’s not the villages job to raise the children.