Boys & Girls Club to build facility at Lindero Canyon school
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

The Boys & Girls Clubs organization, wellknown for its afterschool programs, plans to build a new facility at Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills.

The Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education approved the construction last month.

Dianne McKay, president of the Conejo and Las Virgenes clubs, said the Boys & Girls Clubs will pay for the lion's share of construction costs, estimated at $3.5 million.

The school district will contribute about $400,000, the same amount of money the board anticipated paying for a minor remodel of the building located on the northwest section of the campus.

Lindero Canyon Middle School is being remodeled following the moving of Yerba Buena Elementary School to its new location on Reyes Adobe Road.

"We're providing a really great service for kids," McKay said. She said although the programs are not free to students, the costs will be nominal.

McKay said the Conejo Valley has seen a rise in "latchkey" kids- children who are home alone after school. It is estimated that between 5,000 and 6,000 children in the Conejo Valley are latchkey kids, she said.

The Boys & Girls Clubs offer a safe, after-school environment for middle school students, including sixth-graders as young as 10 years of age, McKay said. The clubs offer students help with homework and an array of activities, including dance, arts and crafts, woodworking, music and games.

In August, many Boys & Girls Clubs' facilities help students with reading and math with teachers on hand to assist. McKay said programs are designed to fit the needs of the area.

"We collaborate with schools on higher levels as well so that we can best serve the kids," McKay said. She said the club's policy is to work closely with principals, teachers and staff to offer what is best for particular students.

McKay said the club devised methods to deal with confidentiality issues, remediation, family problems and children suspended from school that should remain off campus. "We hammer through most of the issues," she said.

Each club employs a branch manager with a minimum fouryear degree, preferably in an area involving children, McKay said.

But experience with kids is equally important. A recent Pepperdine University graduate is now considered for the education director position, she said.

Another employee mans the learning center to help students with their homework, while high school and adult volunteers are on hand at each club.

Benefits to the school include use of the facility during the school day, McKay said. The club will also offer a computer lab to the students as well as to the teachers.

Superintendent Donald Zimring said building "E" will be gutted and redesigned for the club. The decision will have design repercussions at the school. Possibilities may include the redesigning of the science building and transforming a building in the quad area into a two-story facility.

Another building initially scheduled for demolition may be a perfect fit for the music department, Zimring said. The club will not take away space from existing "playscapes," fields or quad areas.

"The campus is a tight campus even with the removal of Yerba Buena," Zimring said. He said his only concern was that once design changes are made and contracts signed, the district could not change their mind, even if unforeseen circumstances forced the Boys & Girls Clubs to pull out of the agreement.

McKay said the organization will provide "progress payments" to demonstrate their good faith agreement.

The preliminary plans for the club include a 6,500-square-foot facility. McKay said the club will be smaller than other 10,000square-foot facilities because there is no need for a multipurpose room.

The redesign of the middle school includes a new multipurpose room and gymnasium, which will be available for use by the club, she said.

Out of the school's 1,000 students, McKay expects about 15 percent to join the club.

Board member Dave Moorman said the extra computer room at the club will offer "added value" to the middle school.

Board member Gordon Whitehead felt assured principal Ron Kaiser and his staff were in favor of the club addition to the school.

The decision was "time sensitive," according to board member Cindy Iser, because of final construction plans for the remodel of the middle school.

"I'm very glad it's come full circle (back to Lindero Canyon Middle School)," said board member Pat Schulz about the decision to locate the club there rather than A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas.