Local News
Lights On Afterschool rally is Thursday
CLINTON — The Clinton Community School District is holding an event Thursday at Jefferson Elementary School in an effort to raise support for the district’s afterschool programming.
The Lights On Afterschool rally will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Jefferson commons, and is free and open to the public.
According to Loras Osterhaus, director of the district’s 21st Century afterschool program, the event is being held as part of a national celebration among afterschool programs across the country.
Organized by the Afterschool Alliance, this year’s event marks the 10th anniversary of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, with more than 7,500 communities and one million Americans expected to participate in the hopes of drawing attention to the need for more quality afterschool programs.
Osterhaus stated that speakers at the event will call for expanding afterschool opportunities, so that every child may have access, and discuss the harm that results from cuts in funding.
The event also will highlight three of the most significant contributions that afterschool programs make to the district, including keeping children safe and healthy, inspiring them to learn, and allowing working parents peace of mind, knowing their children are in a structured and positive environment.
Osterhaus said several activities are planned for the rally, including games, prize giveaways, and free food. Several local leaders are expected to attend, including Mayor Rodger Holm, members of the Clinton School Board and local legislators. More than 900 people attended last year’s event at Alliant Energy Field, and Osterhaus stated organizers are expecting an even larger turnout this year.
“I encourage everyone in the community to attend, to learn how valuable our afterschool programs are to students, and see what they’re all about,” Osterhaus said.
The district’s afterschool programming began in 2003 with a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The program now has six sites and serves 275 students, providing homework assistance, mentoring, tutoring and enrichment activities.
- Local News
-
-
Dorms to replace Frontier
The Best Western Frontier Inn will be closing its doors to the public, if a purchase agreement between its owners and Ashford University goes through at the end of the month.
-
Armed robbery reported at bank
Police are reporting two men committed an armed robbery Thursday afternoon at a Maquoketa State Bank branch in Andrew.
-
Child injured after being struck by car
A 6-year-old received minor injuries after darting into traffic last week and striking a car on North Third Street.
-
Spontaneous combustion causes bin fire
Spontaneous combustion caused a corn bin containing 300,000 bushels of corn to catch fire as it was being unloaded Thursday afternoon in Milledgeville.
-
DeWitt leaders tour Central District’s new construction
A tour of the school construction in progress was the highlighted feature of a joint meeting between the DeWitt City Council and the Central Community School Board in DeWitt earlier this week.
-
U.S. 30 down to one lane next week
Drivers who take the U.S. 30 bridge over the Mississippi River might want to use the North Bridge instead next week.
-
Clinton school leaders to tweak how staff purchases are made
The Clinton schools business office will begin to roll out a new program for purchases by employees, with the goals of saving money and having more safeguards in place over district funds spent by staff.
-
Savanna toddler dies, autopsy shows no trauma
A child who was found unconscious and not breathing at a residence in rural Chadwick on Sunday morning died the next day.
-
Council OKs $46.6M loan for new plant
The Clinton City Council approved a loan of more than $46.6 million at a special meeting Monday to go toward building the new wastewater treatment plant.
-
School district trends outlined
The Clinton School District lost another handful of students this year, as the district continues a downward enrollment trend that has troubled the area for more than a decade.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Dorms to replace Frontier
