Fate of local club programming hangs in balance
By Megan Alley
Sun Reporter
Representatives from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati again met with New Richmond area community members and families to talk about the organization’s developing plans to change its presence in the area, which include leaving the village.
Bill Bresser, chief executive officer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, and Britton Martin, county director for the organization, led the latest community meeting on Feb. 10 at the Robert Williams Club at 213 Union St.
The meeting served as a follow up to the first community meeting held in mid-November 2019.
During that meeting, Bresser and Britton explained that there are a number of issues surrounding the organization’s presence on the Eastside, including a small and aging building — the club has spent $60,000 in the last three years repairing the roof, walls, and more – and low attendance.
The two said that the club serves “only” 45 kids a night, and that the club’s location is not easily accessible to most of those who attend — 75 percent of those who go to the site don’t live in the village, and when compared to other club locations, kids spend “the least amount of time in the New Richmond club,” which Bresser at the time attributed to limited access.
During his recent update, Bresser said that the organization is moving ahead with its plan to sell the New Richmond club’s current building this May.
Bresser and Britton also updated meeting attendees on the status of their request to the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Board of Education to “lease” space, rent-free, in one of the schools, out of which to run the local club’s programs.
According to Bresser, the school board said that they couldn’t offer any waivers on the rent, so at this point, club leaders have decided to “just hit pause and wait.”
“I don’t want to leave New Richmond … but we can’t pay the [estimated] $50,000 in rent,” Bresser said.
The organization has estimated that it brings $150,000 worth of resources to the community with its tuition-free programming.
Club officials are planning to meet with the school board again, after the March election, when voters weigh in on the school district’s proposed 9.4 mills operating levy school levy.
“We’re willing to negotiate,” Bresser said, adding that the club doesn’t pay rent at other schools. “We didn’t want to leave NR; we wanted to have a school-run program.”
He further noted that he hasn’t talked to any other district about relocation or absorbing the New Richmond club’s program.
Looking ahead to summer, all the students who currently attend the New Richmond club are being offered priority placement for free summer programming at the new Jeff Wyler club, set to open this June in Union Township.
To make commuting to the club more accessible, club officials are trying to secure a 15-person passenger van, but that service has not been confirmed yet.
In the meantime, Bresser said that another club update community meeting is planned for April; meeting details will be posted to the Friends of New Richmond Facebook page when they are available.
2020-03-06 12:32:30Z
https://www.clermontsun.com/2020/03/06/nr-boys- girls-club-to-sell-its-building/
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