SAN BENITO — The wheels on the bus go round and round and lead straight to the Boys and Girls Club.
Since the San Benito club announced its partnership with the school district late last year, it has seen an increase in enrollment.
The partnership involves providing students from select schools with transportation to the Boys and Girls Club on Stookey Road after school.
The bus route began with Miller Jordan Middle School.
This week, Dr. Cash Elementary became the second school to receive transportation to the club.
Boys and Girls Club board president Liz Chavez said this addition has already doubled the club’s after school membership.
“Membership has definitely increased,” Chavez said. “The lack of transportation was pretty much an issue.”
Before the addition of the elementary school, an average of 35 students were attending the Boys and Girls Club after school.
Now, the club is averaging more than 60 registered members.
“Dr. Cash added a good chunk to it,” Chavez said.
Chavez said the club is eligible to have 75 students enrolled before she has to begin hiring additional staff, something she hopes to do next school year.
While the club will not be adding any more schools to the route for the remainder of the school year, Chavez said the club is in talks with the superintendent to prepare for next year.
“We’re definitely in constant communication with the superintendent on what’s best moving forward since we’re servicing the same students,” Chavez said.
Due to the restructuring of the school district, the club has not identified what schools will be added to the bus route just yet.
The trend has focused on schools closer to the club’s location, but Chavez said she is focused on finding schools with after school programs that have already reached capacity.
“We’re trying to serve the gap of the students not being serviced,” Chavez said. “We’re trying to help the community by receiving the overfill.”