Grant approved for "Edline After Hours"

Last week, the Montgomery County Educational Foundation (MCEF) approved Blair's grant to sponsor the "Edline After Hours" program in the Media Center. Under this grant, the library will stay open on Mondays from 6-8 p.m. starting Nov. 15 to provide students and parents with academic support as well as computer access and training.

According to math teacher and program supervisor Jacob Scott, "Edline After Hours," provides computer access and Edline training to parents in order to encourage greater parent involvement in their student's educational process. Scott will also help the parents get in contact with their child's teachers in order to establish better communication. The program caters to parents who are unable to have Internet access during the week after work hours; because most public libraries close at 6 p.m. or earlier on most evenings, "Edline After Hours” gives more flexibility for working parents.

The grant, called the Extended Technology Hours grant, provides $1,570, the majority of which will go towards compensating Scott. "Edline After Hours" will run every Monday from Nov. 15 to June 6.

For parents who have long work hours or no Internet access at home, Scott hopes to create a partnership between parents and the school to help students succeed. After sponsoring tutoring programs on a voluntary basis, Scott realized many needed parental support to succeed. "I know firsthand the problems that can happen academically, so I personally want to level the playing field," Scott said.

According to media center specialist Andrea Lamphier, the media center is also waiting on a grant to expand the capacity of the library, remodel the current set up and purchase a third set of computers. The plans for the renovations have already been drawn and the media center is now waiting on grant approval. Lamphier also hopes to apply for another grant to add more microphones and headsets, which will then be available to students.