PATERSON — A $2.5 million federal grant will allow education officials in Paterson to expand services to students at John F. Kennedy Middle School and Elementary School 2, officials said.
The full-service community school grant will provide money over five years for health clinics, after-school programs and summer offerings at both schools, officials said. Services will include internships as well as college and career readiness programs at Kennedy, as well as adult education and family engagement programs at School 2, officials said.
The new grant will bring the number of full-service school programs at Paterson to seven.
“This funding goes directly to empowering Paterson families by bringing many of the services they need to the schools their children attend,” said Paterson Superintendent Eileen Shafer. “When families can get the services they need more easily, it has a direct impact on our students’ ability to succeed in school.
School 6 and School 15 are currently in their fourth year of funding under the federal full-service school programs. Full-service grants expired at three other schools — School 4, School 5 and New Roberto Clemente School — but the district continued scaled-down versions of the program at those locations using other funds, said officials.
Each full-service program is run in partnership with a local nonprofit organization. The New Jersey Community Development Corporation will run the program at Kennedy, while Oasis will run services at School 2, officials said.
The district is working with these two nonprofit groups to set a timeline for the start of services, officials said.
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