Ela Township introduces youth transportation pilot program
Submitted by Ela Township
In an effort to improve accessibility for local area youth to attend an after-school care program, Ela Township is now offering a pilot program that includes transportation via the township's bus service to its Homework Club program for students who attend Isaac Fox and Spencer Loomis elementary schools.
Homework Club is a program offered to youth who live within Ela Township and are entering kindergarten through fifth grade. This program provides a safe, healthy and caring environment for youth, along with homework assistance, library visits, healthy after school snacks, outdoor play with friends and other group activities.
Ela Township elected officials and staff recognized that there was a growing need to provide transportation to support township area parents with this program. According to Susan Dillon, director of Community Programs at the Ela Township Community Center, many parents have a strong need for a quality, affordable after-school care program and are often unable to leave work early to bring their children to the program.
The response from parents of children in the program has been positive.
The schools participating in the pilot program were chosen due to historically long waitlists for other local after-school programs. The township has also extended the operating hours of the Homework Club to help parents utilize this subsidized youth program.
The pilot program's bus service for Homework Club transportation will run according to the District 95 calendar and is in session Monday through Friday from dismissal until 5:30 p.m.
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