Local nonprofits highlight after‑school options and student support funding

Two community groups addressed the board May 11 about after‑school care and student supports.

Allison Demi, founder and director of A2D Academy, said she started the nonprofit in 2022 to help address lengthy Kids Club waitlists and that A2D now has capacity for about 150 after‑school students. “My vision was to provide a safe space where students could continue to learn and grow outside of the classroom,” Demi said and asked the district to consider community partnerships to expand options for families.

Nut graf: Community providers told the board they stand ready to partner with Edina Public Schools to expand access to after‑school enrichment and to reduce pressure on district programs; Give and Go also summarized donations, program changes and direct support to families.

Stephanie Francis Jones, executive director of Edina Give and Go, reviewed the nonprofit’s impact, saying her organization supported 95 Edina Public Schools students across “1,396 opportunities” and deployed $283,082 in direct support to program providers on behalf of eligible families last fiscal year, and that it expects to provide more than $300,000 this year. She described program adjustments — such as removing driver's ed and credit acceleration from the core student enrichment dollar so those services can be funded separately — and said the organization continued instrument grants and summer enrichment support.

Board members thanked both presenters and asked questions about partnerships, capacity and coordination with district transportation. Give and Go and A2D expressed willingness to host board visits and continue coordination; both groups emphasized that community organizations alone cannot fully solve district childcare demand and asked for formal partnership strategies.