The Boys & Girls Club of Sequoyah County and the Sallisaw School System have reached an agreement for new housing for the club. The Boys & Girls Club will be moving to a portion of Sallisaw's old middle school.
The boards of both the club and the school system have agreed to the move, which will cost the club $2,100 per year, plus utilities. The Boys & Girls Club will be moving into the old middle school media center and the science building, which is on the east side of Main Street and not attached to the main building of the former school.
The club is currently located in the old Sallisaw Post Office at the corner of Elm and Choctaw Streets. The building is owned by the city and the club pays the city $425 per month for the building, which includes utilities.
City Manager Clayton Lucas said the city has several options for the use of the old post office, which will be up to the city commissioners.
Sallisaw School Superintendent Scott Farmer said the school system's partnership with the Sequoyah County Boys & Girls Club increases the space for the club. The partnership begins Jan. 1.
Noreen Reininger, the Boys & Girls Club chief professional officer, said the move will double the club's space and children will have more outdoor space.
"We will have more opportunities to offer more of our programs," Reininger said. She said the new location also includes a basketball court and outdoor grassy area where students can play games.
The move will save the club money too, since the school is only charging what it must pay for insurance, but the cost of utilities is still an unknown. "We will not know for sure until we move in," Reininger said about the utilities, "but we anticipate it will cost us less."
Farmer said that the new extended partnership between the school and the club will provide for after-school supervision for students in pre-kindergarten through the second grade at Liberty Elementary School. Students in grades three and higher may go to the new club if their parents wish. Farmer pointed out that this arrangement provides safe oversight for the students and time to do their homework.
"This will be a resource for working families," Farmer said.
Reininger said the Boys & Girls program at the elementary level will cost the same as at the club, which is $10 per month for a membership.
"It helps the working parents and we want to keep it affordable," Reininger said. "We will offer all the same programs."
Farmer said there was some furniture left in the media center and science building and it will be up to the club management if they wish to use it or not. Club administration will also have the choice of some remodeling including the paint and carpet.
Reininger said, "It will take a lot of work." She said the school will be handing over the keys to the new location next week and the club staff will assess the buildings and determine what is to be done. Reininger said they will be painting, cleaning floors and carpets, and preparing staff offices.
Farmer said, "This is a collaborative effort and we want to do more for the entire community."
Reininger concluded, "We want to make it fun and inviting, and we look forward to opening when the kids get back from Christmas break in January."
She said that during the school year the average daily attendance at the Boys & Girls Club is 70. During the summer the average daily attendance is 100.
Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director
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