OXNARD : District Plans Free After-Class Program

In an attempt to keep children off the streets, the Oxnard Elementary School District and community members are developing a pilot program that would allow youths to remain at school for recreational activities until late afternoon.

The program may be implemented as early as September and would be free to children ages 6 to 12 at schools they attend or live near.

“We have a big, big, problem with young kids, and we are going to work those problems through,” said Ventura County Supervisor John K. Flynn, who is heading the program.

Although the school district would provide the facility, the group working on the program is asking the community, and private and public organizations to provide staffing and funding.

It will cost approximately $22,000 a year per school to run the after-class program. This cost includes staff salary, arts and crafts materials and liability insurance.

The McDonald’s restaurant corporation already has agreed to donate $2,000.

The program, which initially would be offered at two schools, would be administered by a nonprofit organization such as the Boys & Girls Club or the Oxnard’s Recreation Department.

The centers would be staffed by high school students and local volunteers and supervised by college students who could earn child development credits.

During the program hours of 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, students would have access to selected school areas to do homework or arts and crafts and practice sports.

The program was developed by residents and community leaders who worry that children with working parents tend to remain on the streets until their parents return home.

“All over our community, children are at risk because there is not enough parental supervision or program activities after school,” said Richard Figueroa, an Oxnard physician who has helped develop the program.

In the next few months, the group, called Associates for Youth, plans to finish the proposal and submit it to the school district board for approval.

In 1987, a similar program at Rose Avenue School in Oxnard fell apart because the children had to pay a fee, organizers said.