Mahoning County considering $800,000 for remote learning support

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Department of Job and Family Services is looking to put about $800,000 in needy family funding toward helping working Youngstown parents with their kids' remote schooling plans.

Working parents who are unable to supervise their Youngstown City School District students — now schooling from home indefinitely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic — would be eligible to enroll their student in a new daytime virtual learning support program at the Youngstown YMCA, if their family qualifies for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

The Department of Job and Family Services is proposing half of its $800,000 in TANF funding that came available Oct. 1 go toward a new program with the YMCA — enough to carry the program through the school year, said Lori Murphy, program administrator. The other half may go to the Ohio State Extension for a similar program, she said.

Commissioners are expected to consider the department's TANF funding allocation at their Thursday meeting.

The YMCA would offer a supervised space for city school students to take online classes and complete schoolwork. The YMCA is also looking to bring on three skillled tutors to assist them, Murphy said.

"We started talking about what would be some of the barriers and challenges kids would face — athletic support, academic support, working spaces, staff support," she said. "We're trying to identify and meet the needs when these situations are arising from COVID."

Shawn Armstrong, executive director of the Youngstown YMCA, grew up on the city's East Side and graduate from Chaney High School, said YMCA CEO Tom Gacse.

Before the school year began, the YMCA was working with Youngstown Schools CEO Justin Jennings to identify gaps in services for city students.

"Our goal is to meet the needs of the community," Armstrong said. "Of course, with COVID and, again, being a kid from the city ... we wanted to step up and be a part of that any way we can.

"These funds are going to really help us go further, reach more kids and really support our community. We have a lot of other connections we're making."

Youngstown City Schools has already provided Google Chromebooks or Apple iPads to students, as well as home internet connections through Spectrum or hotspots through Verizon, to help kids get connected, said spokesperson Denise Dick.

But those things don't help their parents get back to work during school hours.

"If you're working and your kids are little, obviously that's an issue," she said. "We're trying to be as accommodating as we can. Our main purpose is education, but we recognize that's a hardship for families."

Though the district's agreement has also yet to be finalized, the district plans to offer students transportation to and from the YMCA and may also pay for their YMCA memberships, if they want to participate in other after-school programs, Dick said.

There's no clear timeline for the program to begin, as agreements have yet to be finalized, officials said Thursday.

This story was originally published November 1, 2020 at 8:53 AM with the headline "Mahoning County considering $800,000 for remote learning support."