- November 23, 2024
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Flagler students will soon have new options for things to do after school: The city of Palm Coast is partnering with Flagler Schools to create a new after-school program for teens at the Palm Coast Community Center.
"In my opinion, after-school programs are one of the most important parts of education. If you don’t invest in education, you’re going to be investing in prisons and rehabilitation."
— EDDIE BRANQUINHO, city councilman
“We are ready to have fun, and we are very thankful for this partnership with Flagler Schools,” city Chief of Staff Lauren Johnston told City Council members at an Aug. 17 meeting.
The new program will begin Aug. 30, and will run from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
It will begin with 50-75 students from Indian Trails Middle School, with capacity to grow to 150.
The program will be free, with options for enrichment programs for a small fee.
The program had its genesis two years ago when Jordan Butler, then head of the Flagler County Youth Center (he's now the athletics director at Matanzas High School), approached the city and said the Youth Center in Bunnell was over capacity, and more options were needed for students in the northern areas of Palm Coast.
The pandemic delayed work on the proposal, Johnston said.
But city surveys of residents saw more than 1,000 people respond favorably to the idea of adding more teen activities, while surveys the city held at Indian Trails Middle School and Matanzas High School generated over 300 responses from students and parents in favor of the proposed Community Center after-school program.
The schools will provide bus service, while the city will provide staff to supervise the students. The program will be free, with options for enrichment programs for a small fee. It will also feature a counselor-in-training program to help train students as future city camp counselors.
There will be a robotics program, and the city also has a recent partnership with the Palm Coast rowing program, which is interested in supporting student teams, Johnston said.
“There will be a bunch of different activities for these teens to participate in while they’re at the Community Center,” Johnston said. “It’ll be happening.”
“Good activities for the kids,” said Councilman Victor Barbosa. “Get them off the Play Stations.”
“We may have some of those at the Community Center,” Johnston quipped.
The proposal has the support of the City Council.
“In my opinion, after-school programs are one of the most important parts of education,” City Councilman Eddie Branquinho said. “If you don’t invest in education, you’re going to be investing in prisons and rehabilitation.”
