Van Buren Awarded After School Program Grant

The Van Buren School System has been awarded a state grant aimed towards funding after school programs.

Director of Schools Cheryl Cole said since the county does not have a daycare system, the grant helps parents that work on school nights.

“Seventy-four thousand two hundred and fifty dollars is what we received,” Cole said. “Majority of it will be in our after school program. We are open three to five of the evenings to help kids with homework, provide them snacks and provide physical activities.”

Cole said the focus for the grant funds this year will be school supplies and paying teachers to stay after school. Cole said the school system has received the grant for many years, which is the driving force behind the after school program.

“We have had it for a long time, and it is great for this county receive that amount of money to help our kids out,” Cole said.

Van Buren gains the funds by sending in monthly budgets of the program to the state to get reimbursed. The overall goal of Lottery for Education: Afterschool Programs is to provide Tennessee students with academic opportunities that complement the regular curriculum.