SAFE BASE has received a five-year, $360,000 grant that will continue the after-school program for first- and second-graders at Jefferson Elementary.
Angela Henry, executive director of the district’s program, spoke at Monday’s Iola City Council about SAFE BASE’s successful application for a Kansas Department of Education grant.
To assist with the application, Council members in February approved a $5,000 yearly contribution through the life of the grant, to help pay for supplies.
Henry told the Council the city’s assistance gave the local application a much-needed boost.
“One reason our application was so successful was our city partnered with us,” she said.
Out of 98 applications for the competitive grant, only 38 were awarded funding, Henry said.
The plan is to submit another proposal this spring to provide SAFE BASE programming for McKinley and Lincoln elementary schools, as well as fifth- and sixth-graders at Iola Middle School, Henry said.
The funding will pay for salaries and some supplies, and assumes an average daily SAFE BASE attendance of 65 first- and second-graders, Henry said.
The existing SAFE BASE program is open to any student K-6. As of this week, around 170 students are enrolled, Henry said, “a little lower than we have been,” but she expects those numbers to increase in November and December because those months historically involve the greatest numbers of kids.
COUNCIL members approved, 6-0, annual reappointments of Iola Municipal Judge Patti Boyd, City Clerk Roxanne Hutton, City Attorney Robert Johnson II and Police Chief Jared Warner. Council members Aaron Franklin and Sandy Zornes were absent.
Council members also approved a resolution that amends the city’s guaranty agreement connected to issuance of industrial revenue bonds utilized by Iola Medical Developers LLC in 2008 in order to construct the Family Physicians facility on East Street. The bonds are being transferred to the Girard National Bank-Yates Center Branch Bank.
The city has no liability regarding the bonds, but the amendment still was necessary because the bonds were issued by the city.
THE COUNCIL’S next meeting will be Oct. 11, a Tuesday, because Oct. 10 falls on Columbus Day. The 6 p.m. meeting will be at the New Community Building at Riverside Park.
The public is invited.
