Answering the call for remote learning needs

FALL RIVER – There’s help out there for Fall River public school parents challenged by their children’s remote learning needs.

In conjunction with the Fall River School Department, the Fall River Boys and Girls Club and the Fall River YMCA have opened daytime remote learning assistance centers for Fall River students, and People Incorporated expects to be soon following suit. The centers are providing, or in the case of People Inc, will be providing, havens for remote-learning students whose parents/guardians who may not be able to be at home for their children’s online classes.

The YMCA as of Monday was at capacity but was putting students on a waiting list. At each location, the school department is providing technology training and augmenting each organization’s staff by supplying a paraprofessional and an employee from its administrative offices. FRPS is also supplying free breakfast and lunch. Families must provide transportation.

“It is heartbreaking to hear stories of parents that have to decide between leaving children home alone on remote learning days and quitting their jobs,” Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Bill Kiley said in an email. “I am glad the Club, YMCA, People Inc. and other youth serving agencies are available to support our families in need.”

The YMCA, at 199 North Main St., has bumped up its bandwidth to accommodate 70 students. Its day runs from the start of dropoff at 7:45 a.m. to the latest pickup at 5 p.m. “Once students complete their work for the day they participate in traditional YMCA activities such as outdoor playtime, arts & crafts, music, dance and other fun activities,” Fall River YMCA Executive Director Stephanie Mancini said in an email.

The program cost at the Y is $42 per day. Financial assistance is available and PACE vouchers are accepted. For more information, call 508-675-7841.

At the Boys and Girls Club at 803 Bedford St., students may be dropped off as early as 7:30 a.m. and be picked up as late as 5:30 p.m. The club’s facilities, Kiley said, allow for outdoor play activities, indoor gym use, library, computer lab, and cafeteria.

The club is also offering its traditional after-school program, with both school and after-school programs offering three-, four- and five-day options. As of Monday, the club had more than 50 students enrolled, with room for more. The cost is $30 per day for the full day, $15 for just the after-school program. For more information, call 508-672-6340.

At People Incorporated, the plan is to provide a remote learning environment for as many as 40 students at 4 South Main St., the old Citizens-Union Bank building. That building’s Great Room (former bank lobby) and its community playroom will be utilized

Megan Stirk, People Inc.’s president and CEO, said the organization is in the processing of securing a license for the remote learning site and plans to operate it soon.

She said there will be no charge.

Enrollment thus far, she said, has been open to the children of People Inc. employees and for the children the agency serves in its Jack Rua Camp for Children with Diabetes

“We are really excited to be able to assist the families of Fall River in this capacity by pivoting the agency’s space, staff, and resources,” Stirk said in an email. “Our staff have worked hard in a small time frame to totally repurpose our Great Room and Community Playroom to accommodate this unique situation, and we are ready to be a helpful and supportive partner in this new educational landscape.”

The remote learning day will run from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A nurse will be on hand all day, Stirk added.

Families with children in Fall River public schools who are interested in utilizing People Inc.’s remote learning center may call 508-679-5233.

Email Greg Sullivan at gsullivan@heraldnews.com. Follow him @GregSullivanHN.