District gets federal grant for after-school programs

A meeting with U.S. Education Secretary Rod Page at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas that included Nevada Sens. John Ensign Harry Reid, helped secure a $2.3 million federal 21st Century Grant for after-school programs at the Nye County School District, Superintendent LeRoy Key said.

In an abstract about the program, the Nye County School District states all four Pahrump elementary schools, the middle school and high school will become safe and drug-free community learning centers where students, families, community members and senior citizens can come together to resolve needs.

The Nye County School District will receive $800,000 this coming year, then $700,000 the next two years. Key said the Nye County School District program is one of 386 projects funded nationwide, the only other district in Nevada to be funded is Churchill County.

The 21st Century Grant is a Clinton administration initiative, Key said. It will involve hiring 15 to 18 people, the superintendent said. Selway Mulkey, the school district transportation director, will take over as coordinator of the program probably by late September, after he finishes coordinating school bus routes at the start of the school year, Key said. There will also be a site supervisor at each location, technology coordinator, substance abuse prevention counselor and other employees.

Mulkey was a school principal in Idaho and in Eureka, where he also served as Eureka County School Superintendent for six years before coming to the Nye County School District, first as principal of Tonopah School, then later Tonopah High School, which opened in 1991. He came to Pahrump in 1993 to take over as principal of Pahrump Junior High School for two years, before becoming transportation director.

"It's a chance to get back into academia right now and try to make a difference in people's lives. It's basically a before- and after-school program and it's basic purpose is to help a student's academic skills and keep them out of trouble," Mulkey said.

Various agencies -- like Nye County Juvenile Probation, the Nye County Sheriff's Department, the Even Start program and other organizations will take part. The school district is involved in planning the program, Mulkey said. There will be a site for the program at each school, he said.

"The morning before school takes up with helping with their homework for that day and after school for three hours, maybe four hours," Mulkey said. There will be activities like intramural sports, arts, crafts and drama to get students interested in attending, he said. The district will help parents work on their children's academics and (identify) what their needs are.

"It'll be individualized to what one student's needs are," Mulkey said. For example, if a student was on probation, the district can work with that student, he said.

Kay Walker, Nye County director of special services, said the program will be patterned largely after six priority needs for Pahrump youth outlined by community focus groups: reducing the incidence of youth violence, juvenile delinquency and dropouts; developing programs and activities that teach youth to resist peer pressure for participating in risky social behaviors and substance abuse; providing adequate recreation activities and facilities; supporting parental skills; increasing the value of education and connecting youth with senior citizens.

"Organizational leaders and educators in Pahrump, Nev. are determined to alleviate academic and social problems confronting their youth. They intend to provide children and adolescents with opportunities to develop the skills and background for becoming volunteers, problem solvers and contributing citizens of a mushrooming, yet poverty-stricken community," the school district states.

Walker said there will be a strong academic push, but will also include fun activities after school. It won't be an extension of the school day, she said.

"We're hoping to help kids with peer pressure and trying to support parenting skills," Walker said. "It's a real, real big push to create a partnership with a total community interest."

The smaller Churchill County School District received a $700,000, three-year 21st Century Grant, of which $257,253 will be provided this coming year.