After school, between the lines

Old Carver building again hosting a few students

Friday, May 15, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Sheriff's deputy first class Angela DeLozier hands out stickers to participants in the after-school program at the Carver Recreation Center Tuesday following a presentation on the DARE drug abuse prevention program, which will be offered at the site this summer. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Janeya Adams, 8, of Lexington Park assists "Mad Scientist" John Sullens as they balance a ping pong ball using a hair dryer. Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by REID SILVERMAN Six-year-old Martiana Thomas of Lexington Park takes advantage of some late-afternoon sun while using a crayon Tuesday to complete a homework assignment during the new after-school program at the Carver Recreation Center.

Children's voices once again can be heard in the halls of the old Carver school building.

Once a week — and maybe more come next school year — the building is opened to a small number of students for an after-school program that focuses on help with homework, citizenship and athletics. The St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks has renovated the middle portion of the school with a new computer lab and other improvements.

"We gave it a little TLC," said Arthur Shepherd, the county's recreation division manager.

The county put about $1,100 worth of material work into the building and has one paid staff member working there. The program also relies on volunteers and partnerships with the public school system, sheriff's office and some local businesses, Shepherd said.

Since mid-March the program has been serving about a dozen students from the surrounding neighborhood. Next school year Shepherd hopes to utilize a grant to bus in up to 100 students from nearby Park Hall, Lexington Park and George Washington Carver elementary schools several days a week.

The school system is awaiting word on whether it was approved for a new grant that could be used for the expansion of the program.

"There's some challenges within some of the schools in this area," Shepherd said of the need for the program. The students are offered enrichment opportunities that can help them in and out of school.

Students who are registered with the program spend the first hour or so working on homework or other academic activities, Shepherd said.

"First we do our homework and then we can go either to the computer lab or down to the boxing room," said William Tanner, 11. A local volunteer has installed boxing equipment in one room and is working with the children on conditioning and other skills. By 6 p.m. the children can stay and play games in the building's gymnasium.

Tanner has faithfully gone to the program every Wednesday since it began two months ago. He said he would like to see the building opened to kids every day.

Tanner said he can get help with his homework and play with friends in the program.

"We've been working with the community to see what we can do to improve" the land surrounding the old school, said Phil Rollins, county director of recreation and parks.

The program is housed in the middle third of the old school building. One side of the school is used by the county's board of elections to store voting machines while the other side will be used as an outpost by the sheriff's office.

Extensive exterior work on the 35-acre site is also in the works, including possibly two memorials for African-American soldiers, a network of hiking trails, a new basketball court and a long-awaited playground.

"We're still in the process. It's obviously not a complete project yet," Rollins said.

The sheriff's office plans to host a drug abuse resistance program at the Carver building this summer for 50 children.

jyeatman@somdnews.com