Boys & Girls Club Grant Means Academic Success

Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion will receive $1.1 million in grant funding over the next five years from 21^st Century Community Learning Centers for a partnership with area schools. The Club will work with the Vermillion School District to provide enhanced afterschool tutoring and academic success programming. Students will be referred by their teachers to join this free, afterschool tutoring program, ran by a full-time Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion Education Director. Pilot programming will begin Fall of 2022, first serving students in the Vermillion Middle School.

“We are so excited to bring this program to families in the Vermillion community,” said Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion Executive Director Savannah Wise. “We will be able to give youth in this program more focused academic help and grow the services offered from the Boys & Girls Club. I have seen the success of this program at the Boys & Girls Club of Yankton and I know it will be a great addition in Vermillion.”

As the Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion is opening as a licensed, fee-based site for only elementary aged students this year, this five-year grant program provides an exciting opportunity to middle school students in Vermillion to increase their academic success. The Club and Vermillion School District will be in close communication as teachers will refer students to the program based on reading and math testing scores, and tutoring will take place within the school building. The Club’s Education Director will work with these students to reach grade-level reading and math skills, as well as make sure Vermillion families are closely engaged with their students’ success and are supported with transportation opportunities, mental health services, and healthy food options.

Detailed plans and measurable metrics have been set as the Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion and Vermillion School District begin this partnership. The Vermillion Middle School will be the first school to receive access to these afterschool academic success programs, with plans to expand to the Vermillion High School within the first year of programming. The program will continue to grow in the second year by serving students in the Austin and Jolley Elementary Schools.

More details about the Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion’s 21^st Century academic success program will be shared with families at the start of the 2022 school year. An application for the full-time Education Director position, details about Boys & Girls Club programs, and all other information about the Club can be found at greatfuturessd.org or by calling the Club at 605-692-3333.