- October 10, 2024
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Volusia County Schools has entered into a partnership with Food Brings Hope and Daytona State College to provide additional tutoring to students after school.
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, the Volusia County School Board approved a memorandum of understanding for the creation of the Lemerand Center of Excellence, named after local businessman L. Gale Lemerand, who donated $500,000 for the initiative. The program will take place from 3-6 p.m. at the DSC campus and includes transportation from each school. Students will receive help with subjects such as math, science, reading and coding at no cost. Snacks and dinner will also be provided.
To start, 60 children will participate in the program.
"This is just awesome," School Board member Carl Persis said. "This doesn't happen everywhere. You have a person that will donate $500,000 to get this thing going. It's just incredible."
VCS Superintendent Carmen Balgobin thanked Lemerand, Food Brings Hope Founder Forough Hosseini and DSC President Thomas LoBasso for their support of the new program.
"It takes a group of individuals to come together and really say, 'Let's go above and beyond because it's needed,'" Balgobin said.
Many parents of participating children, she added, will also be enrolling in classes as well.
School Board member Anita Burnette said that was an important part of the program.
"Especially in the areas that we're dealing with and giving people hope," she said. "It really does, and I think it's a great opportunity and I hope it's a success so that we can do it again."
The board approved the program for one year, with an option to renew it on a year-to-year basis.
