Brandon Twp.- The kids just want to have fun.
A survey in May of Brandon students in grades K-8 by the Community After School Task Force garnered 1,374 responses, and showed what kids are doing after school and what they wish they were doing.
Among the findings: 86 percent of students go home after school, and more than one in four of the survey’s respondents are alone after school, including 14 percent of responding fourth-graders; 32 percent of responding fifth-graders; 36 percent of responding sixth-graders; and 30 percent of responding seventh- and eighth-graders.
As to what kids are doing with their time after school, the survey found 64 percent are doing homework; 27 percent socialize with friends; 30 percent go on the computer; and 39 percent play a sport or recreational activity.
And, when asked what programs or activities they would like to have, the students responded positively to multiple categories, with some of the biggest choices being games (53 percent); movies (52 percent); computers (44 percent); music (42 percent); swimming (42 percent); basketball (41 percent); and drawing (38 percent).
‘It was a very good response,? said Task Force Chairperson Nancy Strohschein. ‘Of course, the activities they were interested in varied by grade. But a very good number stated they would like to read, watch movies, play an organized sport or play games with friends.?
Township Clerk and task force member Jeannie McCreery tabulated the results of the survey, the purpose of which was to find out whether there is a need for a community center in the township.
‘The kids wanted something like a restaurant to go to, a teen hangout,? says McCreery. ‘A place to talk and eat. We got very interesting responses.?
McCreery and Strohschein plan to present the task force’s findings from the student survey and a parent survey which has yet to be tabulated, to the township, school and library boards in September, as well as the village council. Following the presentations, Strohschein expects the taskforce, which also included regular members Liz Begley, Suzanne Hock, Diane Howe and Brandon Recreation Director Fred Waybrant, to disband after nearly a year in existence.
The taskforce was created following a community discussion of problems at the Brandon Library, with large numbers of students congregating there after school and incidences of vandalism. However, Strohschein has not been concerned about library use for several months.
‘Although this was the initial focus of the first phase of the task force, we believe the library has done a great job in controlling its use by the students,? she said. ‘The kids seem to like the format that was in place at the end of the school year.?
Still, Strohschein acknowledges the kids want something to do, and several local officials agree.
‘The community needs something to keep the kids busy,? said Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tim McIsaac after recent problems at the Village Skate Park. ‘A lot of kids are left alone during summer because both parents work… There is a lack of supervision and nothing to do. In bedroom communities, the problem is a lack of things for teens to do other than school sports and recreational sports. Once school is out, kids don’t have a lot of options.?
Waybrant agrees.
‘If you think of Ortonville, there’s nowhere for the kids to go in the evening if they’re not involved with the recreation program. There’s no teen center, dance club, community center or recreation building.?
Waybrant is currently researching the possibility of an after school program in which students could be bussed to rollerskating two nights a week at Roller Haven in Grand Blanc and another two nights go to Clarkston for bowling. On Friday nights, kids could be taken as a group to the Oxford Theater for a movie. He estimates the cost to be about $40 per week if students are participating in all activities and hopes to use SMART bus money for the program, which would begin in the fall.