Extracurriculars Are Essential to Working Families

Athletics offer a place to build skills like time management, work ethic, integrity, teamwork, and more

In today’s economy, most families need both parents to work outside the home, reshaping our approach to childcare and after-school activities. Extracurriculars emerge as crucial allies for working parents, offering safe, enriching environments where children can pursue interests beyond the standard curriculum.

Safety and Supervision After School

The most immediate benefit of extracurriculars is the safe, structured environment they provide. For parents clocking out from work hours after schools close their doors, the assurance that their child is in a secure, supervised setting is priceless. This isn’t just about physical safety; it’s about knowing your child is in a space where they are supported and encouraged to grow.

Intra-curriculars, like Business Professionals of America, model workplace opportunities to apply knowledge and skills

Skills for Life

Extracurricular activities offer so much more than just a safe waiting room for kids until parents can pick them up. They are vital for instilling life skills. Through participation in extracurriculars, kids learn grit and responsibility, tackle problem-solving, and hone their ability to work as part of a team. These aren't just academic lessons; they're the building blocks for successful adulthood. Whether it's through sports, music, art, or clubs, extracurriculars provide experiences that challenge children to grow in new ways.

Where would you prefer the majority of local children spend their after-school hours? Engaged in productive, supervised activities that build their skillset and character, or left to find their own entertainment, potentially leading to less constructive outcomes?

Community Impact: A Broader Perspective

For those not directly impacted by the juggle of work and child-rearing, this still matters. Consider the broader impact on the community. Where would you prefer the majority of local children spend their after-school hours? Engaged in productive, supervised activities that build their skillset and character, or left to find their own entertainment, potentially leading to less constructive outcomes? When we frame it this way, the answer is clear.

Music and arts teach discipline, responsibility, confidence, attention to detail, problem solving, and more

A Shared Responsibility

As a community, it’s vital to recognize and support the role that extracurricular activities play in the lives of working families. Investing in these programs is an investment in our children's futures and in the health of our community as a whole. It's about creating an environment where kids have the opportunity to thrive, learn, and grow, even outside of regular school hours.

If we fail the levy, we fail kids and families. It's not just about numbers on a budget; it's about what those numbers represent—access to quality education, safe and enriching after-school activities, and the promise of a brighter future. Without the levy, we risk stripping away these essential supports, leaving our children and their families to face the consequences. The levy is our community's commitment to its future, showing our children that we believe in their potential and are willing to invest in their success. Let's not let them–or our community–down.