BEDFORD — The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County (BGCLC) has announced a major strategic restructuring of its operations, centralizing its elementary after-school services in response to the conclusion of a long-running federal grant.
Beginning this upcoming school year, the Club will transition away from site-specific programs hosted inside individual schools and move to a centralized facility model. The shift directly impacts families utilized to services at Dollens, Lincoln, and Shawswick Elementary Schools.
Restructuring Sparked by 25% Revenue Drop
The operational change was necessitated by the conclusion of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant, a federal funding source that sustained the in-school programs for the past eight years.
According to administrative officials, the expiration of the 21st CCLC grant reduces the Club’s annual program revenue by approximately 25%.
“For nearly a decade, this funding has allowed us to provide after-school programs directly in our local schools,” said Frank Decker, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County. “While losing this funding presents challenges, it also allows us to strengthen our programs and ensure we can continue serving kids and families for years to come.”
Enhanced Programming in Larger Facilities
Under the centralized blueprint, youth will be grouped into larger, resource-rich facilities designed to maximize staff efficiency, specialized equipment, and dedicated activity spaces:
- Grades K–5th: Restructured to meet at the centralized Limestone Unit.
- Grades 6th–12th: Restructured to meet at the Thornton Teen Center.
BGCLC officials emphasize that these larger facilities will allow the Club to offer expanded, high-quality opportunities that were difficult to replicate in individual school classrooms.
Club members will now gain daily access to full gymnasiums to support movement, athletics, and physical wellness, alongside dedicated training spaces for cheerleading, karate, and gymnastics. Furthermore, the centralized model will yield expanded academic tutoring, specialized STEM opportunities, creative arts spaces, and the delivery of evidence-based national programs such as SMART Moves, Healthy Habits, Triple Play, and Digital Literacy.
Hot Evening Meals Guaranteed for Every Child
A cornerstone of the transition is the expansion of the Club’s nutrition program. Thanks to recent commercial upgrades completed at both the Limestone Unit kitchen and the Thornton Teen Center, the Club is now equipped to prepare and serve more hot food than at any point in its history.
Moving forward, every participating child will receive a hot, nutritious evening meal before being picked up or transported home.
“Access to a healthy evening meal is important for many of the families we serve,” Decker noted. “This approach helps ensure that every child leaves the Club fed, cared for, and ready for the next day.”
The Transportation Puzzle: What Parents Need to Know
Recognizing that transit logistics are vital to the success of the new centralized model, BGCLC is actively working alongside school corporations and regional partners to secure busing.
The current transportation landscape for the affected elementary schools varies due to regional driver shortages:
- Lincoln Elementary: North Lawrence Community Schools (NLCS) has officially committed to providing direct bus transportation for Lincoln students to the Club facilities.
- Dollens, Needmore, and Shawswick: Due to severe bus fleet limitations and ongoing driver capacity challenges, NLCS is currently unable to expand transportation services to these remaining sites.
- Next Steps: BGCLC is actively negotiating with secondary community partners to establish alternative routes for Dollens, Shawswick, and Needmore families (who previously commuted to the Dollens site).
Even though transit routes for several schools are still being finalized, parents are strongly urged to register their children when the portal opens on July 1st. Registering early secures an official program spot or a priority waitlist position, regardless of whether a family utilizes community busing or provides their own personal transportation.
Mitchell Community Schools Unaffected
While North Lawrence schools navigate the transition, BGCLC’s Mitchell Community Schools After School Site will continue to operate with absolutely no changes.
Serving students in grades 4th through 8th, the Mitchell program will maintain the system established in August 2024, where Burris Elementary students are smoothly bused directly to Mitchell Junior High School for after-school programming.
Contact & Support
The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County views this strategic pivot as a vital mechanism to guarantee the long-term economic sustainability of youth services in Southern Indiana.
For registration assistance, fee structures, or to inquire about partnership opportunities to support student transportation, community members can reach out via the following channels:
- Address: 2009 19th St. Bedford, IN 47421
- Phone: 812-279-6123
- Email: info@bgcblc.org
- Online Portal: bgclawco.org
