BURBANK : Club Seeks Use of School for Program

The Boys & Girls Club of Burbank has asked the school board for permission to use an elementary school for a mobile recreational program.

The school, McKinley Elementary, had been considered a potential site from which the club might operate, but the permit application had been derailed by an unrelated controversy over how groups obtain use of district facilities.

A proposed family planning clinic at the school created a public protest because the clinic had planned to distribute birth control devices. The controversy led to the school board giving itself more control over the permit process for the use of district facilities.

In the meantime, the club found another site--former city Fire Station 13--for which it is negotiating a lease while trying to renovate the facility to open after the start of next year.

But the Rev. Jerry Jones, president of the Boys & Girls Club, went to the school board Thursday night to explain how the organization works. He told board members the club is still interested in using McKinley for occasional Saturday recreational programs.

Using McKinley, and other schools or city parks around the city, would help the club reach children who otherwise would not be able to use the Burbank facility.

“My heart and soul is with the children, the young people of this city,” Jones said, inviting board members to visit club activities at any time.

Suzie Wilson, head of the Burbank Parent Teacher Assn. Council, said she supported the Boys & Girls Club but just wanted to get more information on its proposal.

Supt. Arthur Pierce told the board that he will work with the club to fill out a permit application. Since the club only wants to have occasional access to the school grounds, Pierce said formal approval would not have to come from a board vote.