In February, 2007, with the help of the After School Education and Safety Grant provided by the California Department of Education, the City of Fontana Community Services Department partnered with several local agencies to create an all-inclusive after-school program that highlights educational

enrichment, physical fitness, cultural development, and health and wellness. Since combining resources with the Fontana Boys and Girls Club, the Fontana Unified School District (FUSD), and Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD), the Fontana After School Program has been the focal point at several schools and is at near maximum enrollment at all sites.

Currently, there are twenty-four schools and nearly 3,000 students participating in the Fontana After School Program. FUSD has thirteen elementary schools and three middle schools with Fontana After School Programs, while Colton Joint Unified has three schools supported by the grant and three participating elementary schools that are not supported by the grant and are fee based. Etiwanda likewise has two non-grant funded fee-based elementary school sites.

When asked about the number of participating sponsors and how efficient they were as a team, program administrator, Frances Hernandez said, "The partnership is very successful. Our success as a team is reflected in the annual evaluation that takes place every July. FUSD sends the official statistics to the state at the end of the review period. Everyone reviews the program to include the parents, kids, teachers, participants and Boys and Girls Club."

Initial responses to the after-school program have been very positive. The Fontana After School Programs offer students opportunities to learn through fun activities. Some program highlights include Scholastic Challenges that combine educational challenges with physical fitness, such as mathematical drills mixed with jumping, basketball, or running/walking clubs at least three times per week. Students are also taught about proper nutrition with the help of Healthy Fontana and the after school nutritional snacks. Thanks to the dedicated staff and the structure of the program, the students are participating in a high quality program that is also educating them in a nontraditional way.

In the upcoming year, the staff for Fontana After School Program will continue to work closely with the program's main partners. There will be three full-time Community Services Coordinator II's working with the elementary and middle school programs. According to Hernandez,

"Each coordinator, coordinates, trains, plans and supervises the day to day functions of the program and oversees a total of 135 staff members for all 24 school sites."

Each must meet the School District's minimum requirements of instructional aid in regards to a drug and T.B. tests, as well as a full background investigation for each employee. Additionally, there are Community Service Assistants of varying levels assigned to each school for a total of ninety-six part-time staff at the elementary schools, seventeen staff members assigned to the Middle Schools and a full time Community Services Coordinator II who supervises all staff with one After School Community Assistant III administrator.

By having staff in the schools or at the Jack Bulik Teen Center (the location of the Middle School program), the Fontana After School Program has shown that the 2007/2008 school year should be an effective tool for engaging students both academically and physically.

To find out more about the Fontana After School Program at any of the local elementary schools, please call (909) 350-6585, or for Middle school programs, please call (909) 428-8393.

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