CARBONDALE (WSIL) -- The Boys & Girls Clubs of 九游体育 Illinois has offered its Springer Street site as a remote learning location for students.
After a successful summer program, The Boys & Girls Clubs of 九游体育 Illinois CEO, Tina Carpenter, says she wanted to offer a safe learning environment for students for the fall.
"As soon as the schools decided what they were going to do and be all remote, we knew we need to provide a place for kids to be so that parents can go to work or get assistance with their children's learning," she said.
The club partnered with the Carbondale Elementary School District -- who will provide students with breakfast and lunch, as well as a class schedule to keep them on track.
"Connectivity is something we're still kind of working out, but it's actually not that bad. They get knocked off and they log back in and you know, it's going well, it's nice to see the kids. They seem engaged," she said.
The Club has also established safety measures to protect students and staff. Carpenter says a financial challenge will be programming times.
"Making sure we stay within the allotted hours that we usually have during the school year and that's usually only afternoon, but we're open from 8 to 5:30 and then we'll be open three evenings a week for high school," she said.
News 3 checked in with 6th grader, Nathan, about his first day at the site.
"Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's hard, but it's also fun at the same time," he said.
Carpenter says about 76 out of 100 slots have been filled and hopes more parents bring in their students.
"I mean that's the big thing, we're living our mission. We're here for the kids," she said.
Carpenter says donations are still welcome, and that she appreciates the community's support.
