Ortonville- Summer is here and the kids are getting a break from school. The Brandon Township Library, meanwhile, is getting a break from the kids.
‘We have a breather this summer to plan our strategy for the fall,? says Zoe Pearson, library public relations director.
Pearson is referring to the problem the library has had in dealing with large numbers of kids in the library, sometimes as many as 150, after school from about 2:30- 5 p.m. Besides simply accomodating the numbers, the library has had to contend with vandalism and children not following library policies.
A forum regarding the issue was May 5 at the library, 304 South St., during which approximately 60 members of the community discussed the problem and solutions.
‘We have noticed a big change since the forum,? Pearson said, noting there are fewer kids and fewer problems. ‘Our taskforce will be getting together in the fall.?
The taskforce she refers to is a group of more than a dozen individuals who have offered to work on solutions.
Ken Tison, youth pastor at Ortonville Baptist Church, 173 Church St., has one possible solution.
Tison and members of OBC have offered to open the church from 2:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. for kids every Tuesday starting after Labor Day and continuing until next Memorial Day. A study hall with two adults to help with homework will be in the sanctuary; the church lobby will be available for kids to talk and socialize; and the gymnasium will be open for students for full-court basketball.
For every ten kids, there will be an adult to supervise. All members of the church who work with kids have gone through what Tison calls a ‘child-protection policy,? which includes background checks.
‘We are not running classes or giving sermons or anything of that nature, but if the subject came up we would tell them what we believe,? Tison said. ‘We just felt that we had a building that could help and we felt they can be loud in the gym and quiet in the sanctuary. We want to be involved in the community where we can.?
Tison is checking into having basketball clinics at the church once a month for the after school youngsters and thinking of other gym activities. The church is committing to Tuesdays only for the forthcoming school year, but if response is good, may consider more.
Since the forum, Pearson said several people have volunteered to monitor kids in the library after school. She hopes to get enough volunteers so each one would only need to come in and monitor once every two weeks.
If you are interested in volunteering as an after school monitor at the library, call (248) 627-1460.