Representatives from the Alliance Recreation Center gathered at the Alliance School Board Meeting as board members approved a proclamation for the Lights on Afterschool Event at the Center.
Mara Andersen, ARC Director, spoke to the board members about the event as children from the after-school program handed board members cards
“We wanted to come and say thank you for the help from your partnership with the after-school program,” said Andersen. “You were our first partner to the table and we are now in our third school year or providing after-school care. October is national Lights on Afterschool Month. So, for the past 21 years, the Afterschool Alliance has put on an event helping nationwide after school programs recognize the importance of keeping lights on for kids after school.”
Afterschool Alliance formed in 2000 by a group of investors with the goal of expanding learning opportunities for children after school and during the summer. Lights on Afterschool, according to their website, has been chaired by former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger since 2001, and is a project of the Afterschool Alliance. The project is meant to celebrate after school programs throughout the nation.
Andersen invited board members to come to their Halloween party, which is exclusive to participants in the ARC after school program.
Before the board took a vote on the proclamation, Andersen offered input on another topic discussed at the meeting: the response to COVID-19. She said that students in the ARC After School Program are required to wear masks in order to prioritize health.
“I hope to stress and reiterate to everyone who is here tonight too, that this is not a political decision,” Andersen said. “They’re not wearing masks out of fear. We’re not afraid of the virus. What we do want first and foremost, and foundational in our program, is to keep kids in school, and to keep them safe. And safe means healthy. Safe means fed. Safe means learning and getting a quality education.”
Andersen explained that the decision to enforce masks was not an easy one to make.
“I know that this may be unpopular for you to decide, but I would always err on the side of keeping kids in school,” said Andersen. “Always, always in school. If March taught us anything, it’s that virtual learning isn’t great for anyone: teachers, students, families, employers. As someone who operates a business or an organization, the most important thing I can do is keep my staff employed, keep them paid, keep them at work, keep them healthy; do everything I possibly can do, and that trickles down to kids, too.”
Citing the lack of people who wore masks to the meeting, she said she would have to quarantine, regardless if she was wearing a mask. She urged everyone to be a role model for the children.
“We have kids here, and we have to show them that we’re going to do what we need to do to keep kids in school,” said Andersen. “I empathize with you, but I really hope you can do what you need to do to keep kids in school.”
Board members did not offer any comment on the issue of masks, but voted unanimously to approve the Lights on Afterschool proclamation.