NYSED Recognizes City’s Dedication to Youth, Education and Families

Glen Cove Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp recently accepted a grant from the New York State Department of Education. “I am proud to announce that our city earned a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant,” said Mayor Holzkamp during a recent press conference. “The vision of our 21st Century Community Learning Center Collaborative is to mobilize all of Glen Cove’s resources to meet the educational needs of youth and families by raising their expectations as to what they can achieve, providing for educational growth and development, utilizing strategies that will make the best use of their assets all within the context of a community of caring.” Glen Cove will receive $811,000 annually through 2008.

Glen Cove won this competitive grant because of the experience and promise shown by the city and its eligible agencies and organizations. The consortium of agencies involved in this project include: the City of Glen Cove/Glen Cove Youth Board; the Glen Cove School District; GCCCASA, (Glen Cove Citizens Committee Against Substance Abuse); the Boys and Girls Club; La Fuerza Unida, Inc. and the IAC, (InterAgency Council).

“It is rare that a municipality steps up to the plate to take a leadership role in the provision of educational opportunities to all the members of a family. We’re all in this together to eliminate the barriers between institutions and to serve the needs of our children,” added Mayor Holzkamp.

Community Learning Centers provide academic enrichment opportunities for children outside regular school hours as well as literacy and other educational services to their families. Programs for middle and high school students are given priority including English language learners and students with disabilities.

Juan Castro, the executive director of the Glen Cove Youth Board, was instrumental in writing the grant. He said, “There are times when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Glen Cove’s 21st Century Learning Center collaboration is truly greater than the sum of its parts by: providing for educational opportunities beyond the schools’ borders, days and times of operation and extending the benefits of education to the entire family and offering students a broad array of additional services, programs and activities not available through any one agency. By pooling our resources we are able to address the complex educational and youth developmental needs in a comprehensive, integrated way.”

Superintendent of Glen Cove Schools, Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley said, “The Glen Cove School District will be working closely with the other Glen Cove agencies to increase services to the students of Glen Cove. Through the 21st Century Grant, we will be able to provide extensive after school and Saturday programs to assist our students in meeting the rigorous New York State diploma requirements. Regents review classes, an ESL immersion program as well as other support programs will afford all of our students an opportunity to strengthen their academic performance.”

Mr. Castro will provide the overall administration of the grant and Christina Morris, IAC project coordinator will be responsible for program coordination, project reports, and liaison between the NYS Dept. of Education.

Description of How Glen Cove’s 21st Century CLC Grant Will Work

• City of Glen Cove: grant fiscal management, program oversight and administration.
  
  
• Glen Cove School District: after school, evening, summer and weekend schedules will provide educational enrichment of ESL instruction, one-to-one tutorials in English, Math and Science to all under achieving students in four elementary schools, middle and high school—in particular the Hispanic population that represents 39 percent of enrollment. Middle and high school students will be offered prep courses to assist with the new Regents criteria for graduation.
  
  
• The Glen Cove Youth Board: will engage at-risk youth in positive behavioral changes, mentoring, as well as enrichment and support services in nutrition, health, art, music, technology, recreation and leisure time.
  
  
• Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club: will expand Power Hour, a homework help program and high-yield learning activities with computer access and a GED program.
  
  
• La Fuerza Unida: serves the Hispanic community with educational, social, legal and economic resources. The agency will provide 200 family units with programs for Parent & Child, ESL instruction and citizenship classes for parents/adults and GED programs.
  
  
• GCCCASA: (Glen Cove Citizens Committee Against Substance Abuse) will expand their Parent-child Home Program targeted at economically disadvantaged families with 2 and 3 year olds.
  
  
• IAC: (InterAgency Council) with 54 member agencies will improve the delivery of human services to Glen Cove and its environs and will coordinate the 21St CCLC grant with the member agencies aforementioned.
  
  

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