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North Adams School Adds Supper to After-School Program
By Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
04:44PM / Thursday, October 13, 2016
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Noella Carlow, the school system's 21st Century site coordinator, and Mayor Richard Alcombright pose with the Lights On Afterschool' proclamation.


Carlow, the mayor and Superintendent Barbara Malkas answer questions from the City Council on Tuesday.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The school district is expanding yet again an after-school program that's credited with improving academic scores and social growth.

Beginning this fall, Brayton Elementary School will offer a supper program for any city students under the age of 18, Monday through Friday.

The school district has been designated a 21st Century Community Learning Centers for 14 years and is considered a demonstration model of the federally funded program for other districts.

"It was often used, in my practice in other districts, as the model to emulate and it is no small surprise to me that the after-school time program that has been offered at Brayton has truly assisted ... in closing the academic achievement gap," Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the City Council on Tuesday night. "We are adding to that program to make it a viable program that helps keep our children safe and closes the academic achievement gap."

Brayton School achieved Level 2 status this year for the first time based on last spring's standardized tests, missing Level 1 by only 2 progress and performance index points.

"That is a huge accomplishment and is in no small part what happens within the school day but also beyond the school day," Malkas said. "Because we have used those grant funds so strategically to continue these programs. ...

"I think it is a testament to the work you have done as city councilors and the School Committee supporting the advancement of these programs."

Her appearance with Noella Carlow, the school system's 21st Century site coordinator, and Kimberly Roberts-Morandi, the new director of curriculum, instruction and assessment, was to mark a proclamation for "Lights On Afterschool," a national celebration of after-school enrichment programs.

"We have just exemplary programming in the city and in this district," said Mayor Richard Alcombright, chairman of the School Committee, in presenting the proclamation.

Carlow said the system has its largest enrollment ever with about 250 students, and Colegrove Park Elementary School has about another 150 students at its site.

Many students are enrolled four or five days a week in the two 16-week sessions that run during the school year.

"They could be getting 400 hours extra enrichment and emotional, social experience," she said. The supper club idea was a hit with busy parents who were often juggling work schedules and other commitments for their children. "They were just picking up fast food and now they are getting a hot meal."

Malkas invited the councilors to attend the supper club on Oct. 20 and see some of the after-school programs.

Councilor Kate Merrigan, who had working with the Carlow on an after-school program when she was with Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, questioned the longevity of the program based on funding sources.

Malkas responded that "there's a question mark there that has to do with Nov. 8," referring to the presidential election.

"What we have seen in the last eight years is the amount of funding for continuation grants ... has diminished over time and the number of sites has decreased."

She credited Carlow and the district staff for some "amazing grant entrepreneurship" to keep the program viable, including a recently awarded multi-year $20,000 grant.  

Councilor Keith Bona said his children had benefitted from the Brayton programs. "I thought they were great programs," he said. "I'm glad to see many years later, they're still continuing."

Much of the kudos were awarded to Carlow, but she insisted it wasn't just her.

"I'm really proud of my staff, I've got 25 staff who've been with me for several years," she said, adding that administrators and the district's many community partners have made a difference. "It really is a team effort."

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