By the looks of the support it received at the Cannon County Commission meeting Saturday, several people count on the Cannon County Reach afterschool program. The Commission had on its agenda Saturday to discuss the Reach program and address the State Auditor’s concerns that it is funding the private program. Cannon County is the only county in the State of Tennessee which funds an afterschool program. Reach is funded 100 percent by grant money. However in order for it to get started during the fiscal year, Cannon County pays the expenditures of the program which is estimated to be around $6,000 a month until the program can get their grant money which is usually three to four months into the fiscal year. Once the grant money is obtained, the County receives their portion that they have spent back and the rest is used for Reach to operate on until the next school year. The State Auditor has made it clear that the County needs to take the program off of their hands. The School system cannot assume the responsibilities of the Reach program because it is a private entity. However, both the schools and county commission recognize the importance and need of an after school program. A committee consisting of county commissioners and the School Board members will look into implementing an after school program. The schools will have to have their own program, which could be funded by the same grants the Reach program has been funded by. The Schools will have to draw up their extended school program plan and submit it to the Cannon County Board Of Education for approval.
