Fayette County parents concerned about loss of programs before and after school

FAYETTE COUNTY, Tenn. — Parents in Fayette County are upset after learning several schools will not be providing before- and afterschool programs this year, reportedly because the district was denied a grant for the program.

A notification went out this week on social media, stating, “The 21st-Century Community Learning Center-Beyond the Bell grant has been denied by the State for this school year.”

The statement listed five Fayette County Schools impacted: Southwest, LaGrange Moscow, Oakland, Buckley-Carpenter and West Junior High.

Ashley Turner, a working mom in Oakland with three children in Fayette County schools, said the announcement came “out of the blue,” with school set to open August 5.

She’s come to rely on before- and afterschool programs the district has provided.

“I know there’s a lot of working parents. Some of our customers here have come in and are very upset about it,” Turner said. “They really helped with homework and things that I didn’t really understand, and then I don’t get off work until later, so I knew where they were. They were safe, and getting the extra help they need.”

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The sudden news has some parents caught between a rock and hard place when it comes to after school child care.

“I know that a lot of the people in Oakland yesterday were voicing their concerns on the internet about how they’re looking for child care, because they don’t know what to do,” said Elizabeth Smith, an Oakland parent.

WREG tried several times to reach the Fayette County superintendent of schools about why the grant was denied, but we were told Doctor Versie Hamlett was not available.

According to the post, Fayette County Schools plans on working with the YMCA to offer assistance.

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